Multipurpose Diagnostic Examination Apparatus And System

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus includes a diagnosis control unit (DCU), an attachment unit, and an image capture device (ICD). The attachment unit is detachably connected to and extends from a front end of the DCU. A microcontroller of the DCU receives and processes actuation signals from trigger elements of the DCU to indicate actions to be performed by the ICD removably connected to a camera module of the DCU, and/or by a medical diagnostic device (MDD) connected to the DCU via the attachment unit. The microcontroller facilitates transmission of diagnostic image data captured by the ICD and processed by the camera module, and diagnostic examination data from the MDD, to a medical diagnostic examination system (MDES) accessible on a local user device via a connector interface of the DCU. The MDES, in communication with a remote user device over a communication network, facilitates remote viewing, selection, and diagnostic examinations.

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine is designed to provide medical diagnosis and treatment topatients remotely. Telemedicine also provides patients with access tohealthcare in restricted areas and difficult to access areas, and torural communities. Telemedicine also reduces cost and resourceconsumption for providing healthcare. In telemedicine applications,medical information is collected from medical devices and transferredthrough a media communication network to a remote location for thepurpose of remote consultations, medical examinations, medicalprocedures, etc. Situations where a medical examination of a distantpatient is required comprise, for example, when healthcare facilityaccess to a patient is restricted due to multiple reasons such as remotelocation, military environment, home patients, etc., emergencysituations where time restriction calls for immediate diagnosticexamination of the patient, situations when a patient cannot befrequently mobilized to a hospital and requires regular checkups, etc.It is difficult to carry and move bulky or heavy diagnostic equipment toremote locations or into emergency situation environments. Anatomicalexamination in these situations is therefore difficult unless thepatient is rushed to the nearest hospital with the required facilitiesand equipment.

Major concerns while performing virtual diagnostic examination aresafety, efficiency, and cost effectiveness. For example, conventionalvirtual diagnostic systems typically need to be compliant with theHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability act (HIPAA) standards.Efficiency and cost effectiveness, however, are not as clearly definedand depend significantly on a diagnostician's requirements. For amedical device such as a stethoscope or a dermatoscope, theeffectiveness of the medical device depends not only on the efficiencyof the medical device in recording diagnostic data, but also on theability of the medical device to provide useful information in a timely,usable, and appropriate manner. Medical devices with a poor userinterface or inadequate controls are unlikely to be used fortelemedicine applications when the information requirements are timecritical. Moreover, conventional medical devices that are used intelemedicine applications communicate data using universal serial bus(USB) 2.0 communication standards that use substantially low speed datacommunication, for example, at a speed of about 480 megabits per second(Mbit/s). Even a telemedicine device compatible with a high qualityimage processing technology or a video digital signal processingtechnology is not sufficient for processing high quality image datausing USB 2.0 communication standards. Conventional telemedicine devicestypically use outdated technology that is now superseded by updatedtechnology that allows faster data transmission. Conventionaltelemedicine devices are not equipped with the updated technology thatallows clarity and significantly fast communication of diagnostic datacollected using the telemedicine devices.

Conventional telemedicine techniques also lack interactivity betweenpatients and healthcare providers. Moreover, in conventional diagnosticexamination procedures, observations are subjectively recorded from anexamining doctor's perspective. The examining doctor records theobservations and stores the recorded observations digitally or in awritten form. However, if the doctor's observations are incorrect, thepatient has to undergo examination again by another physician. A doctortypically creates transcripts for a large number of patient records in aday that can wear out the doctor. In such situations, the doctor may endup recording incorrect observation data. In such cases patient recordsare not reliable. Hence, there is a need for a computer implementedsystem that records and stores diagnostic data in real time, forexample, in an audio file format, a video file format, an image fileformat, etc., instead of relying on subjective observations of onedoctor, thereby allowing another doctor to perform accurate medicalevaluations and examinations using the recorded diagnostic data.

Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus that facilitates medical imaging andremote diagnostic examination of a patient in real time via acommunication network, while ensuring clarity of diagnostic datarecorded by medical diagnostic devices, and providing diagnostic data ina timely, usable, and appropriate format for accurate remote medicaldiagnosis. Moreover, there is a need for a method and system thatfacilitates medical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations using themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus implemented with anupdated data communication standard, thereby ensuring safety,efficiency, and cost effectiveness of medical diagnostic examinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed descriptionof the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key oressential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus disclosed hereinaddresses the above stated needs for facilitating medical imaging andremote diagnostic examination of a patient in real time via acommunication network, while ensuring clarity of diagnostic datarecorded by medical diagnostic devices, and providing diagnostic data ina timely, usable, and appropriate format for accurate remote medicaldiagnosis. The method and system disclosed herein address the abovestated needs for facilitating medical imaging and remote diagnosticexaminations using the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatusimplemented with an updated data communication standard, therebyensuring safety, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of medicaldiagnostic examinations.

The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus disclosed hereincommunicates with a medical diagnostic examination system accessible ona local user device via a connector interface of a diagnosis controlunit of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus. Themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus comprises the diagnosiscontrol unit, an attachment unit, and an image capture device. Thediagnosis control unit comprises a microcontroller. The microcontrollerdetects an operable connection of the image capture device and/or amedical diagnostic device, for example, a stethoscope device, adermatoscope device, an otoscope device, etc., to the diagnosis controlunit via the attachment unit. The microcontroller receives actuationsignals from one or more of multiple trigger elements positioned on apredefined section of the diagnosis control unit. The microcontrollerprocesses the received actuation signals to generate action controlsignals. The action control signals indicate one or more actions to beperformed by the image capture device and/or multiple medical diagnosticdevices interchangeably connected to the diagnosis control unit via theattachment unit.

The attachment unit is detachably connected to and extends from aconnector slot configured at a front end of the diagnosis control unit.The attachment unit comprises a receptacle for accommodating the imagecapture device and operably connects a medical diagnostic device to thediagnosis control unit. The image capture device removably connects to acamera module positioned at a front section of the diagnosis controlunit. The image capture device is supported within the receptacle of theattachment unit. The image capture device captures diagnostic image dataduring medical imaging and diagnostic examinations. The camera moduleprocesses the captured diagnostic image data. The microcontroller of thediagnosis control unit facilitates transmission of the processeddiagnostic image data from the camera module and diagnostic examinationdata of multiple formats from the medical diagnostic device to themedical diagnostic examination system accessible on the local userdevice via the connector interface configured at a rear section of thediagnosis control unit. The connector interface is in communication withthe camera module and the operably connected medical diagnostic devicevia the attachment unit to receive and transmit the processed diagnosticimage data and the diagnostic examination data to the medical diagnosticexamination system. In an embodiment, the connector interface is incommunication with the operably connected medical diagnostic device viathe connector slot configured at the front end of the diagnosis controlunit to receive and transmit the diagnostic examination data to themedical diagnostic examination system. The medical diagnosticexamination system on the local user device is in communication with aremote user device over a communication network to facilitate remoteviewing, remote selection, and remote diagnostic examinations ofmultiple anatomical examination areas via the communication network.

In one or more embodiments, related systems include but are not limitedto circuitry and/or programming for effecting the methods disclosedherein; the circuitry and/or programming can be any combination ofhardware, software, and/or firmware configured to effect the methodsdisclosed herein depending upon the design choices of a system designer.Also, various structural elements may be employed depending on thedesign choices of the system designer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with theappended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings.However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods,structures, and components disclosed herein. The description of a methodstep or a structure or a component referenced by a numeral in a drawingis applicable to the description of that method step or structure orcomponent shown by that same numeral in any subsequent drawing herein.

FIG. 1A exemplarily illustrates a right side elevation view showing animage capture device removably connected to a front section of adiagnosis control unit of a multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus.

FIG. 1B exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view showing theimage capture device removably connected to the front section of thediagnosis control unit and a connector slot configured at a front end ofthe diagnosis control unit for connecting an attachment unit of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus.

FIG. 2A exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of anattachment unit of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus,showing a light support connected to a front section of the attachmentunit.

FIG. 2B exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of theattachment unit, showing spring contact connectors positioned at a rearend of the attachment unit for electrically connecting light sourcespositioned on the front section of the attachment unit to amicrocontroller of the diagnosis control unit.

FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice removably connected to the front section of the diagnosis controlunit, and the attachment unit detachably connected to and extending froma front end of the diagnosis control unit.

FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of theattachment unit, showing an otoscope device operably connected to thefront section of the attachment unit.

FIG. 5A exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice removably connected to the front section of the diagnosis controlunit, and the otoscope device operably connected to the front section ofthe attachment unit.

FIG. 5B exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice removably connected to the front section of the diagnosis controlunit, and the otoscope device operably connected to the front section ofthe attachment unit.

FIG. 5C exemplarily illustrates a left side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice removably connected to the front section of the diagnosis controlunit, and the otoscope device operably connected to the front section ofthe attachment unit.

FIG. 5D exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice, the otoscope device connected to the attachment unit, andtrigger elements.

FIG. 5E exemplarily illustrates a bottom perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice, the attachment unit, the otoscope device, a support element, anda release button.

FIG. 5F exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus comprising the diagnosis control unit,the attachment unit, the image capture device, and the otoscope device.

FIG. 5G exemplarily illustrates a front elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the otoscopedevice connected to the front section of the attachment unit.

FIG. 5H exemplarily illustrates a rear elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing a connectorinterface configured at a rear section of the diagnosis control unit.

FIG. 5I exemplarily illustrates a top plan view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capture device, thetrigger elements, and the otoscope device.

FIG. 5J exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing the attachment unit, theotoscope device, the support element, and the release button.

FIGS. 5K-5L exemplarily illustrate side elevation views of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the attachmentunit, the otoscope device, the image capture device, the triggerelements, and the support element.

FIGS. 6A-6B exemplarily illustrate front elevation views of a printedcircuit board connected to light sources.

FIG. 7 exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of theattachment unit, showing a dermatoscope device operably connected to thefront section of the attachment unit.

FIG. 8 exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice removably connected to the front section of the diagnosis controlunit, and the dermatoscope device operably connected to the frontsection of the attachment unit.

FIG. 9 exemplarily illustrates a right side elevation view showing theimage capture device removably connected to the front section of thediagnosis control unit, and a light source operably connected to anupper section of the diagnosis control unit.

FIG. 10A exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of anembodiment of the attachment unit, showing a stethoscope device operablyconnected to a front end of the attachment unit.

FIG. 10B exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of theembodiment of the attachment unit shown in FIG. 10A, showing springcontact connectors positioned at the rear end of the attachment unit forelectrically connecting the stethoscope device positioned at the frontend of the attachment unit to the microcontroller of the diagnosiscontrol unit.

FIG. 11A exemplarily illustrates a left side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing light sources,the image capture device removably connected to the front section of thediagnosis control unit, and the stethoscope device operably connected tothe front end of the embodiment of the attachment unit shown in FIGS.10A-10B.

FIG. 11B exemplarily illustrates a front elevation of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing light sources and thestethoscope device.

FIG. 11C exemplarily illustrates a rear elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the connectorinterface configured at the rear section of the diagnosis control unit.

FIG. 11D exemplarily illustrates a top plan view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing the stethoscope deviceconnected to the embodiment of the attachment unit shown in FIGS.10A-10B, and the trigger elements positioned on the upper section of thediagnosis control unit.

FIG. 11E exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing the support element, therelease button, and the stethoscope device.

FIG. 11F exemplarily illustrates a left side elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice, light sources, and the stethoscope device.

FIG. 11G exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus comprising the diagnosis control unit,the attachment unit, the image capture device, the stethoscope device,and light sources.

FIG. 12A exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of anembodiment of the attachment unit, showing an ultrasound device operablyconnected to a front end of the attachment unit.

FIG. 12B exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of theembodiment of the attachment unit shown in FIG. 12A, showing springcontact connectors positioned at the rear end of the attachment unit forelectrically connecting the ultrasound device positioned at the frontend of the attachment unit to the microcontroller of the diagnosiscontrol unit.

FIG. 13A exemplarily illustrates a left side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice removably connected to the front section of the diagnosis controlunit, light sources operably connected to the diagnosis control unit,and the ultrasound device operably connected to the front end of theembodiment of the attachment unit shown in FIGS. 12A-12B.

FIG. 13B exemplarily illustrates a front elevation of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing light sources and theultrasound device.

FIG. 13C exemplarily illustrates a rear elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the connectorinterface configured at the rear section of the diagnosis control unit.

FIG. 13D exemplarily illustrates a top plan view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing trigger elements positioned onthe upper section of the diagnosis control unit, light sources, theimage capture device, and the ultrasound device.

FIG. 13E exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing the support element, therelease button, and the ultrasound device.

FIGS. 13F-13G exemplarily illustrate side elevation views of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice, a light source, and the ultrasound device.

FIG. 13H exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus comprising the diagnosis control unit,the attachment unit, the image capture device, the ultrasound device,and light sources.

FIG. 14A exemplarily illustrates a left side elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing an embodimentwhere a diagnosis assistance element is removably connected to a lowersection of the attachment unit.

FIG. 14B exemplarily illustrates a front elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing an embodimentwhere a supplementary attachment slot is positioned on the lower sectionof the attachment unit for inserting the diagnosis assistance element.

FIG. 14C exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice removably connected to the front section of the diagnosis controlunit and the diagnosis assistance element connected to the attachmentunit.

FIG. 14D exemplarily illustrates a left side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice removably connected to the front section of the diagnosis controlunit and the diagnosis assistance element connected to the attachmentunit.

FIG. 14E exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice and the diagnosis assistance element.

FIG. 14F exemplarily illustrates a bottom perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice, the diagnosis assistance element, the support element, and therelease button.

FIG. 14G exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus comprising the diagnosis control unit,the attachment unit, the image capture device, and the diagnosisassistance element.

FIG. 14H exemplarily illustrates a front elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the diagnosisassistance element extending from the front section of the attachmentunit, and the light sources.

FIG. 14I exemplarily illustrates a rear elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the connectorinterface configured at the rear section of the diagnosis control unit.

FIG. 14J exemplarily illustrates a top plan view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capture device, thetrigger elements, and the diagnosis assistance element.

FIG. 14K exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus, showing the diagnosis assistanceelement, the support element, and the release button.

FIGS. 14L-14M exemplarily illustrate side elevation views of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, showing the image capturedevice, the trigger elements, the diagnosis assistance element, and thesupport element.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method for facilitating medical imaging and remotediagnostic examinations.

FIG. 16 illustrates a computer implemented method for performing medicalimaging and remote diagnostic examinations, in communication with amedical diagnostic examination system.

FIG. 17 illustrates a computer implemented method for facilitatingmedical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations of one or moreanatomical examination areas via a graphical diagnostic examinationinterface.

FIGS. 18A-18E exemplarily illustrate a flowchart comprising the stepsperformed by the microcontroller of the diagnosis control unit forfacilitating medical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations.

FIGS. 19A-19C exemplarily illustrate a flowchart comprising the stepsperformed by the medical diagnostic examination system for facilitatingmedical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations.

FIG. 20 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the diagnosis controlunit of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus.

FIG. 21 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the printed circuitboard of the light sources configured to be operably connected to theattachment unit for illuminating and indicating anatomical examinationareas during medical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations.

FIG. 22 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the printed circuitboard of the stethoscope device and the light sources operably connectedto the attachment unit.

FIGS. 23A-23D exemplarily illustrate a flowchart comprising the stepsperformed by a digital signal processor of the stethoscope device forrecording and transmitting audio data to the medical diagnosticexamination system on a local user device.

FIG. 24 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the printed circuitboard of the ultrasound device and the light sources operably connectedto the attachment unit.

FIG. 25 exemplarily illustrates a system for facilitating medicalimaging and remote diagnostic examinations.

FIG. 26 exemplarily illustrates the hardware architecture of the medicaldiagnostic examination system employed for facilitating medical imagingand remote diagnostic examinations.

FIGS. 27A-27I exemplarily illustrate screenshots of the graphicaldiagnostic examination interface provided by the medical diagnosticexamination system for performing remote diagnostic examinations.

FIG. 28 exemplarily illustrates determination of a length of theattachment unit based on optical parameters of the image capture device.

FIGS. 29A-29B exemplarily illustrate implementations of differentembodiments of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus withthe stethoscope device, and the medical diagnostic examination systemaccessible on a local user device or a remote user device for medicalimaging and remote diagnostic examinations.

FIG. 30 exemplarily illustrates an implementation of another embodimentof the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus with the diagnosticassistance element, and the medical diagnostic examination systemaccessible on a local user device or a remote user device for medicalimaging and remote diagnostic examinations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A exemplarily illustrates a right side elevation view showing animage capture device 106 removably connected to a front section 101 a ofa diagnosis control unit 101 of a multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3. The image capturedevice 106 comprises a universal serial bus (USB) 3.0 high definition(HD) camera. The image capture device 106 comprises an optical lens 107in operable communication with a camera module 124 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 5F. The optical lens 107 has multiple adjustablefeatures comprising, for example, focus, zoom, and aperture. In anembodiment, a rubber cup 106 c positioned on a front surface 106 b ofthe image capture device 106 for protecting the optical lens 107. Therubber cup 106 c together with the optical lens 107, when moved orrotated, adjusts the zoom of the optical lens 107. In anotherembodiment, a disposable cap (not shown) is removably attached to thefront surface 106 b of the image capture device 106 for protecting theoptical lens 107 of the image capture device 106, for example, when themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 is used for a throatdiagnostic examination. In an embodiment, the disposable cap is adisposable clear cap compliant with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)standards. In an embodiment, a small handle 108 a is positioned on anupper section 106 a of the image capture device 106. The handle 108 aallows a user, for example, a medical assistant to open and close theaperture of the image capture device 106. In an embodiment, themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprises a handholder wristband 109 for allowing a user to conveniently hold themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 by the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 in hand. In an embodiment as exemplarily illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1B, the diagnosis control unit 101 comprises heat dissipationcutouts 111 positioned on side surfaces 101 d of the diagnosis controlunit 101 to allow heat generated during the operation of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 to be dissipated. Inan embodiment, a support element 110 is positioned on a lower surface101 c of the diagnosis control unit 101.

In an embodiment, the camera module 124 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.5F, is, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) 3.0 compatible cameramodule comprising a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) or acharge coupled device (CCD) image sensor, and a digital media processorfor creating and producing high definition (HD) image data and/or HDvideo data with resolution, for example, 2080×1552 pixels at 60 framesper second (fps). The camera module 124 is manufactured, for example, byPoint Grey Research, Inc. The image capture device 106 further comprisesan integrated hardware platform. The integrated hardware platformfacilitates multifunctional usage of the image capture device 106 formedical industry applications and telemedicine applications. The imagecapture device 106 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100 disclosed herein can be used for medical imaging during diagnosticexaminations comprising, for example, a general medical examination, acardiovascular examination, a lung examination, a bowel examination, athroat examination, an otoscopy, a dermatological examination, anophthalmoscopy, an endoscopy of different organs, etc.

The image capture device 106 captures diagnostic image data duringmedical imaging and diagnostic examinations. In an embodiment, the imagecapture device 106 is configured as a video camera for performingmedical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations. The camera module124 processes the captured diagnostic image data. The processing of thecaptured diagnostic image data performed by the camera module 124comprises, for example, color filtering, digitizing the captureddiagnostic image data, etc. The diagnosis control unit 101 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 3, comprises a microcontroller 2004, for example, an8 bit microcontroller exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20. Themicrocontroller 2004 facilitates transmission of the processeddiagnostic image data from the camera module 124 to a medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 that is configured as an application software ona local user device 2505 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. In anembodiment, the microcontroller 2004 controls the camera module 124 forcontrolling, for example, a single image capture. In an embodiment, theimage capture device 106 is enabled with universal serial bus (USB) 3.0video capturing technology for allowing uncompressed video transmission,for example, in the SuperSpeed® transfer mode of SuperSpeed LLC, at aspeed of, for example, about 5 gigabits per second (Gbit/s). The use ofthe USB 3.0 video capturing technology produces true color image qualityof the diagnostic image data generated by the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 that can be displayed on a display screen ofthe local user device 2505 compatible with USB 3.0 communicationstandards. In an embodiment, the image capture device 106 operates, forexample, based on USB 3.0 protocols. The USB 3.0 protocol allows theimage capture device 106 to create true color images that can bedisplayed on a display screen of a USB 3.0 compatible local user device2505, for example, a computer monitor, a tablet monitor, a desktopmonitor, a laptop monitor, etc. The image capture device 106 stores thecaptured diagnostic image data in a local memory of the image capturedevice 106. In an embodiment, the image capture device 106 erases thestored diagnostic image data from the local memory of the image capturedevice 106, for example, by simultaneous activation of a power controltrigger element 103 and an action control trigger element 104 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100.

In an embodiment, the trigger elements 102 are positioned on apredefined section, for example, an upper section 101 b of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1A. The triggerelements 102 comprise, for example, the power control trigger element103, the action control trigger element 104, and two output modificationtrigger elements 105 a and 105 b as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1A.On activation of the action control trigger element 104, the imagecapture device 106 creates an image from a real time video output of theUSB 3.0 HD camera. In an embodiment, the power control trigger element103 and the action control trigger element 104 can be used, for example,for activating or deactivating the image capture device 106, foractivating or deactivating a medical diagnostic device, for example, anotoscope device 119 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, or anophthalmoscope device (not shown), or a stethoscope device 134exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, or a dermatoscope device 131exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, or an ultrasound device 141exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, or an endoscope device (notshown), etc., operably connected to the diagnosis control unit 101 forcontrolling an image capture and storage operation of the image capturedevice 106, for recording, transferring, or deleting diagnostic imagedata and diagnostic examination data via the image capture device 106and/or the medical diagnostic device, etc.

FIG. 1B exemplarily illustrates a front perspective view showing theimage capture device 106 removably connected to the front section 101 aof the diagnosis control unit 101 and a connector slot 112 configured ata front end 101 e of the diagnosis control unit 101 for connecting anattachment unit 115 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3. As exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 1B, the connector slot 112 is configured on a lower section 101 fextending below the front end 101 e of the diagnosis control unit 101.The connector slot 112 comprises connector pads 113. In an embodiment,the connector slot 112 at the front end 101 e of the diagnosis controlunit 101 comprises, for example, 3×5 connector pads 113, that is,connector pads 113 on three rows and five columns of the connector slot112 for receiving attachment signals from the attachment unit 115exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B, connected to the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The connector pads 113 are configured to engage withspring contact connectors 118 positioned at a rear end 115 b of theattachment unit 115 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2B, to allowelectrical communication of light sources positioned on a light support117 operably connected to a front section 115 c of the attachment unit115 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2A, or positioned on a predefinedsection along a length of the attachment unit 115, with themicrocontroller 2004 of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 20. Furthermore, the connector pads 113 areconfigured to engage with the spring contact connectors 118 positionedon the rear end 115 b of the attachment unit 115 to allow electricalcommunication of a medical diagnostic device operably connected to thefront end 115 a of the attachment unit 115, with the microcontroller2004 of the diagnosis control unit 101.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1B, the connector pads 113 arearranged, for example, in three rows. The top row comprises, forexample, five connector pads 113 that receive and connect to the springcontact connectors 118 of the light sources, for example, light emittingdiodes (LEDs) 125 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5F, positioned on thefront section 115 c of the attachment unit 115, for allowing control ofa brightness level of light generated from the LEDs 125 used duringmedical imaging and diagnostic examinations. In an embodiment, the lightsource is a clear plastic LED attachment used as a light pipe forilluminating difficult to access areas comprising, for example, areasinside the throat, the ear, the nose, etc., during medical imaging anddiagnostic examinations. The second row comprises, for example, fiveconnector pads 113 that receive and connect to the spring contactconnectors 118 of a stethoscope device 134 positioned at a front end 115a of the attachment unit 115 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10Band FIGS. 11A-11G, for controlling the operation of the stethoscopedevice 134 and for enabling communication with the stethoscope device134. The third row comprises, for example, four connector pads 113 thatreceive and connect to spring contact connectors 118 of an ultrasounddevice 141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B and FIGS. 13A-13H,for controlling operation of the ultrasound device 141 and enablingcommunication with the ultrasound device 141. In an embodiment, thefirst and second connector pads of the first row are configured toprovide power and ground connections to the image capture device 106 andthe medical diagnostic device, for example, the stethoscope device 134or the ultrasound device 141, or the image capture device 106 alone,depending on which medical diagnostic device is connected to theattachment unit 115 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100.

In an embodiment as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1B, the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 further comprises a release button114 positioned on the lower section 101 f of the diagnosis control unit101. The release button 114 allows removal of the attachment unit 115from the diagnosis control unit 101 on application of pressure on therelease button 114. In an embodiment, small handles 108 a and 108 b arepositioned on the upper section 106 a and the lower section 106 d of theimage capture device 106 respectively to allow a user, for example, amedical assistant to open and close the aperture of the image capturedevice 106.

FIG. 2A exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of anattachment unit 115 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3, showing a light support 117connected to a front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115. The frontsection 115 c extends, for example, in an upward perpendicular directionfrom the front end 115 a of the attachment unit 115 as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 2A. The front section 115 c comprises an opening 115d for allowing the image capture device 106 exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 3, to view one or more anatomical examination areas of a patient.The attachment unit 115 comprises a receptacle 116 for accommodating theimage capture device 106 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3. Theattachment unit 115 operably connects a medical diagnostic device, forexample, an otoscope device 119 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L,or an ophthalmoscope device (not shown), or a stethoscope device 134exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, or a dermatoscope device 131exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, or an ultrasound device 141exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, or an endoscope device (notshown), etc., to the diagnosis control unit 101. The light support 117houses light sources, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5F. The LEDs 125 are positioned on thelight support 117 on the front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115.The attachment unit 115 is operably connected to the front end 101 e ofthe diagnosis control unit 101 to create a receptacle 116 to accommodatethe image capture device 106 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3. TheLEDs 125 attached to the front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115to allow the image capture device 106 removably connected to the frontsection 101 a of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustratedin FIGS. 1A-1B, and supported within the receptacle 116 of theattachment unit 115 to function as a general medical examination device.

FIG. 2B exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of theattachment unit 115, showing spring contact connectors 118 positioned ata rear end 115 b of the attachment unit 115 for electrically connectinglight sources, for example, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5F, positioned on the front section 115c of the attachment unit 115 to the microcontroller 2004 of thediagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20. Thespring contact connectors 118 are, for example, Mill-Max® spring contactconnectors of Mill-Max Mfg. Corp. In an embodiment, the attachment unit115 comprises a row of five spring contact connectors 118 configured toconnect to a row of five connector pads 113 of the diagnosis controlunit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 3 exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106 removably connected to the front section 101 a of thediagnosis control unit 101, and the attachment unit 115 detachablyconnected to and extending from the front end 101 e of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100with the image capture device 106 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3 canbe used, for example, as a general examination device. The attachmentunit 115 is configured as a removable and replicable attachment unit115. The image capture device 106 is screwably connected to the frontsection 101 a of the diagnosis control unit 101. As exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 3, the diagnosis control unit 101 comprises triggerelements 102 comprising, for example, the power control trigger element103, the action control trigger element 104, and two output modificationtrigger elements 105 a and 105 b positioned on the upper section 101 bof the diagnosis control unit 101. The light support 117 positioned onthe front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115 comprises one or morelight sources, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 5F, that generate light of varied brightness levelsfor improving quality of medical imaging and remote diagnosticexaminations. The LEDs 125 facilitate medical imaging performed by theimage capture device 106. The brightness of light generated from theLEDs 125 can be controlled by a user, for example, a medical assistant,via the output modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b configured,for example, as up or down push buttons. For example, the user canincrease the brightness of light generated from the LEDs 125 by pressingthe “+” output modification trigger element 105 b, and decrease thebrightness of light generated from the LEDs 125 by pressing the “−”output modification trigger element 105 a.

FIG. 4 exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of theattachment unit 115, showing an otoscope device 119 operably connectedto the front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115. The otoscopedevice 119 is a medical diagnostic device used for viewing inside apatient's ears. The otoscope device 119 is in fluid communication withthe opening 115 d configured in the front section 115 c of theattachment unit 115. In an embodiment, light sources, for example, lightemitting diodes (LEDs) 125 are housed inside the otoscope device 119 asexemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5F. A conventional otoscope devicerequires a smaller receptacle and hence centralization of the LEDs 125in the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, allows focusing of light during diagnosticexaminations. The attachment unit 115 for the otoscope device 119comprises a row of spring contact connectors 118 configured at the rearend 115 b of the attachment unit 115 to connect to the connector pads113 of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.1B, for allowing control of the brightness levels of light generatedfrom the LEDs 125 by the diagnosis control unit 101.

FIG. 5A exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106 removably connected to the front section 101 a of thediagnosis control unit 101, and the otoscope device 119 operablyconnected to the front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115. Theattachment unit 115 with the otoscope device 119 is detachably connectedto and extends from the front end 101 e of the lower section 101 f ofthe diagnosis control unit 101. The multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 further comprises trigger elements 102, for example, thepower control trigger element 103, the action control trigger element104, and the output modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 bpositioned on the upper section 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101for controlling operation of the otoscope device 119 and light sources,for example, a set of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 arranged in acircle inside the otoscope device 119 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG.5F. The LEDs 125 inside the otoscope device 119 are activated and theotoscope device 119 is inserted into a patient's ears. The image capturedevice 106 records a video or captures an image of the patient's earcanal and tympanic membrane, or eardrum and stores the recorded video orthe captured image in the local memory of the image capture device 106as diagnostic image data prior to transmission to the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25.

FIGS. 5B-5C exemplarily illustrate a right side perspective view and aleft side perspective view of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 respectively, showing the image capture device 106removably connected to the front section 101 a of the diagnosis controlunit 101, and the otoscope device 119 operably connected to the frontsection 115 c of the attachment unit 115.

FIG. 5D exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106, the otoscope device 119 connected to the attachmentunit 115, and the trigger elements 102 comprising the power controltrigger element 103, the action control trigger element 104, and theoutput modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b.

FIG. 5E exemplarily illustrates a bottom perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106, the attachment unit 115, the otoscope device 119, asupport element 110, and a release button 114. The support element 110is positioned on the lower surface 101 c of the diagnosis control unit101. The release button 114 is positioned on the lower section 101 f ofthe diagnosis control unit 101.

FIG. 5F exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprising the diagnosis controlunit 101, the attachment unit 115, the image capture device 106, and theotoscope device 119. The exploded view shows the trigger elements 102comprising the power control trigger element 103, the action controltrigger element 104, and the output modification trigger elements 105 aand 105 b. The exploded view also shows the support element 110 and therelease button 114. The power control trigger element 103 and the actioncontrol trigger element 104 are positioned on a printed circuit board(PCB) 120 housed in a cavity 121 of the diagnosis control unit 101. Theoutput modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b are positioned on aPCB 122 housed in the cavity 121 of the diagnosis control unit 101. Theexploded view also shows a connector interface 123 positioned on a rearsection 120 a of the PCB 120. The image capture device 106 is removablyconnected to the camera module 124 of the diagnosis control unit 101.The camera module 124 is operably connected to a front section 120 b ofthe PCB 120. The camera module 124 is in operable communication with theoptical lens 107 of the image capture device 106. The camera module 124processes the diagnostic image data received from the image capturedevice 106 prior to transmission to the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, via the connectorinterface 123. FIG. 5F exemplarily illustrates an electricalconfiguration of the light sources, for example, the LEDs 125. Asexemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5F, wires 127 extending from a PCB 128of the LEDs 125 are connected to the spring contact connectors 118 ofthe attachment unit 115. The spring contact connectors 118 of theattachment unit 115 operably connect to a connector pad PCB 130 housedin the connector slot 112 of the diagnosis control unit 101.

The PCB 128 of the LEDs 125, the LEDs 125, and light pipes 126 arehoused in a light pipe holder 129. The light pipes 126 house the LEDs125 and provide a path for the light emitted from the LEDs 125 to reachthe otoscope device 119. The light pipes 126 are configured of atransparent material in one or more sizes. In an embodiment, the lightpipes 126 are configured as short rectangular pipes as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 5F, for use in conjunction with the otoscope device119. In another embodiment, the light pipes 126 are configured as longcylindrical pipes exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 11G, FIG. 13H, andFIG. 14G, for use in general medical diagnostic examinations, forexample, a throat diagnostic examination. A front portion 129 a and arear portion 129 b of the light pipe holder 129 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 5F, together house the PCB 128 of the LEDs 125, the LEDs 125,and the light pipes 126 therewithin.

FIG. 5G exemplarily illustrates a front elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the otoscopedevice 119 connected to the front section 115 c of the attachment unit115.

FIG. 5H exemplarily illustrates a rear elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the connectorinterface 123, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) 3.0 connectorinterface configured at the rear section 101 g of the diagnosis controlunit 101. The connector interface 123 is in communication with thecamera module 124 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5F, and the otoscopedevice 119 via the attachment unit 115. The connector interface 123allows electronic communication between the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 and the medical diagnostic examination system2506 accessible on a local user device 2505 exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 25, for medical imaging and diagnostic examinations. The connectorinterface 123 receives and transmits the processed diagnostic image dataof the patient's ear from the camera module 124 to the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506. The connector interface 123comprises, for example, at least two connector elements 123 a and 123 bconfigured, for example, as two USB 3.0 connecter ports. The connectorelement 123 a or 123 b allows communication of the processed diagnosticimage data from the camera module 124 and/or the otoscope device 119 tothe medical diagnostic examination system 2506 on receiving instructionsfrom the microcontroller 2004 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20. Forexample, the connector element 123 a or 123 b allows video and/or audiodata communication. The connector element 123 a or 123 b allows serialdata communication between the microcontroller 2004 of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 and the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 forcontrolling operations of the image capture device 106 and/or theotoscope device 119 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5G, for medicalimaging and diagnostic examinations. For example, the connector element123 a or 123 b allows RS-232 communication with the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 accessible on the local user device 2505. In anembodiment, the connector interface 123 is, for example, a USB 3.0connector interface, a hardware connector interface such as theThunderbolt connector interface or a Thunderbolt 2 connector interface,etc.

In an embodiment, the connector interface 123 is a universal serial bus(USB) 3.0 connector interface configured to allow uncompressed, highspeed, and high quality serial data communication between the cameramodule 124 of the diagnosis control unit 101 and the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506. In an embodiment, the connector interface 123allows storage of the diagnostic image data and the diagnosticexamination data comprising, for example, images and audio files on thelocal user device 2505, a remote hard disk, a USB flash drive, or adedicated server such as the data management server 2510 via acommunication network 2509 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. In anembodiment, the data storage performed is compliant with HealthInsurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards.

FIG. 5I exemplarily illustrates a top plan view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the image capture device106, the trigger elements 102 comprising the power control triggerelement 103, the action control trigger element 104, and the outputmodification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b, and the otoscope device119.

FIG. 5J exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the attachment unit 115,the otoscope device 119, the support element 110, and the release button114. The support element 110 positioned on the lower surface 101 c ofthe diagnosis control unit 101 provides support to a user while holdingthe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. In an embodiment,the support element 110 is a finger grip, for example, made of rubbermaterial.

FIGS. 5K-5L exemplarily illustrate side elevation views of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing theattachment unit 115, the otoscope device 119, the image capture device106, the trigger elements 102 comprising the power control triggerelement 103, the action control trigger element 104, and the outputmodification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b, and the support element110.

FIGS. 6A-6B exemplarily illustrate front elevation views of a printedcircuit board (PCB) 128 connected to light sources, for example, a setof light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125. The microcontroller 2004 of thediagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, and aconstant current light emitting diode (LED) driver 2101 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 21, control the brightness of the LEDs 125. Theconstant current LED driver 2101 is positioned under the PCB 128. ThePCB 128 comprises wires 127, for example, a red wire and a black wireconfigured to allow electrical connection of the LEDs 125 to the springcontact connectors 118 of the attachment unit 115 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 2B and FIG. 5F. The LEDs 125 are used as lightsources for illuminating anatomical examination areas to be examined.FIG. 6A exemplarily illustrates geometrical specifications of the PCB128 and the LEDs 125 connected to the PCB 128. The geometricalspecifications comprise, for example, a diameter of a ring or a circledefined by the LEDs 125, a width and a height of each of the LEDs 125,etc. The diameter of the circle defined by the LEDs 125 is, for example,15.2 mm as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 6A, or 8.5 mm as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 6B. The width of each LED 125 is, for example, about2.8 mm. The height of each LED 125 is, for example, about 3.2 mm. In anembodiment, a PCB 128 with the diameter of the circle of the LED ringequal to 8.5 mm is used with the otoscope device 119 to provide acentralized light source for examining areas inside the nose and theears through the otoscope device 119 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4and FIGS. 5A-5L.

FIG. 7 exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of theattachment unit 115, showing a dermatoscope device 131 operablyconnected to the front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115. Thedermatoscope device 131 is, for example, a plastic attachment used forskin diagnostics. The attachment unit 115 for the dermatoscope device131 comprises a row of spring contact connectors 118 configured toconnect to the connector pads 113 of the diagnosis control unit 101exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1B, for controlling brightness levels oflight generated from the light sources positioned on the light support117.

FIG. 8 exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106 removably connected to the front section 101 a of thediagnosis control unit 101, and the dermatoscope device 131 operablyconnected to the front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115. Theattachment unit 115 is detachably connected to and extends from thefront end 101 e of the diagnosis control unit 101. The trigger elements102 comprising the power control trigger element 103, the action controltrigger element 104, and two output modification trigger elements 105 aand 105 b are positioned on the upper section 101 b of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 for controlling operation of the image capture device106 and the dermatoscope device 131.

FIG. 9 exemplarily illustrates a right side elevation view, showing theimage capture device 106 removably connected to the front section 101 aof the diagnosis control unit 101, and a light source operably connectedto the upper section 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101. In anembodiment, the light source is a laser pointer 132 as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 9. The laser pointer 132 facilitates virtualdiagnostic examination for a doctor. The laser pointer 132 indicatesanatomical examination areas on a patient's body to allow a doctor toremotely verify that correct anatomical examination areas are examined.For example, to allow a doctor to verify proper functioning of apatient's heart, he/she should listen to five points on the heart. Thelaser pointer 132 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 9, is used to ensurethat the doctor is listening to the correct point. The laser pointer 132comprises a power control push button 133 positioned, for example, on arear section 132 a of the laser pointer 132 for activating anddeactivating the laser pointer 132.

FIG. 10A exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of anembodiment of the attachment unit 115, showing a stethoscope device 134operably connected to the front end 115 a of the attachment unit 115.The stethoscope device 134 is an acoustic medical diagnostic device forauscultation or listening to internal sounds of a patient's body. Thestethoscope device 134 is, for example, an electronic stethoscopedevice. In this embodiment, the attachment unit 115 comprises a lightsupport 117 housing light sources, for example, light emitting diodes(LEDs) 125 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11B and FIGS. 11F-11G,positioned on a predefined section along the length of the attachmentunit 115, for example, on a section 115 e proximal to the rear end 115 bof the attachment unit 115 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 10A. Asexemplarily illustrated in FIG. 10A, the attachment unit 115 for thestethoscope device 134 is of a substantially longer length, that is, alength sufficient to permit medical imaging of anatomical examinationareas, and to allow a doctor to view a patient's body through the imagecapture device 106 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 11A. The stethoscopedevice 134 comprises an array of piezoelectric microphones 2201exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22, and a touchscreen 135, for example,a liquid crystal display (LCD) touchscreen as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 10A. The piezoelectric microphones 2201 of the stethoscope device134 convert internal sounds from the patient's body to electricalsignals that are transmitted to the diagnosis control unit 101 throughthe spring contact connectors 118 connected to the connector slot 112 ofthe diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1B. Thetouchscreen 135 displays information associated with operations andcontrols of the stethoscope device 134.

FIG. 10B exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of theembodiment of the attachment unit 115 shown in FIG. 10A, showing thespring contact connectors 118 positioned at the rear end 115 b of theattachment unit 115 for electrically connecting the stethoscope device134 positioned at the front end 115 a of the attachment unit 115 to themicrocontroller 2004 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20. If a user, forexample, a medical assistant wants to use the stethoscope device 134with the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, the user can connect the spring contactconnectors 118 of the attachment unit 115 comprising the stethoscopedevice 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B, to the connectorpads 113 positioned in the connector slot 112 of the diagnosis controlunit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1B. The stethoscope device 134connects to the connector pads 113 of the diagnosis control unit 101 viathe spring contact connectors 118 of the attachment unit 115. The springcontact connectors 118 are, for example, Mill-Max® spring contactconnectors of Mill-Max Mfg. Corp. The stethoscope device 134communicates diagnostic acoustic data with the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 on a local user device 2505 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25, by transmitting the electrical signals generatedby the piezoelectric microphones 2201 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.22, of the stethoscope device 134 to the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 via the connector interface 123, for example, the universalserial bus (USB) connector interface of the diagnosis control unit 101exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 11G. The stethoscope device 134 requiresa substantially small opening and hence centralization of the lightsources at the section 115 e proximal to the rear end 115 b of theattachment unit 115 allows focusing light during diagnostic examinationusing the stethoscope device 134.

FIG. 11A exemplarily illustrates a left side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the lightsources comprising, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 and alaser pointer 132, the image capture device 106 removably connected tothe front section 101 a of the diagnosis control unit 101, and thestethoscope device 134 operably connected to the front end 115 a of theembodiment of the attachment unit 115 shown in FIGS. 10A-10B. Themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprises triggerelements 102, for example, a power control trigger element 103 and anaction control trigger element 104. The power control trigger element103 and the action control trigger element 104 control activation anddeactivation of the stethoscope device 134 and initiation andtermination of audio file generation and storage. The laser pointer 132comprises a power control push button 133 positioned on the uppersection 132 b of the laser pointer 132 for activating or deactivatingthe laser pointer 132. The laser pointer 132 is configured to indicateanatomical examination areas on a patient's body to allow a doctor toremotely verify that correct anatomical examination areas are examined.The stethoscope device 134 records and transmits the diagnostic acousticdata to the diagnosis control unit 101 via the attachment unit 115.

FIG. 11B exemplarily illustrates a front elevation of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the light sourcescomprising, for example, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 and thelaser pointer 132, and the stethoscope device 134.

FIG. 11C exemplarily illustrates a rear elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the connectorinterface 123 configured at the rear section 101 g of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The connector interface 123 comprising at least twoconnector elements 123 a and 123 b is in communication with thestethoscope device 134 connected to the front end 115 a of theattachment unit 115 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 11A, via theconnector slot 112 configured at the front end 101 e of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1B, to receive thediagnostic examination data, for example, the diagnostic acoustic datarecorded by the stethoscope device 134. The connector elements 123 a and123 b of the connector interface 123 allow communication of thediagnostic acoustic data to the medical diagnostic examination system2506 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. The connector element 123 a or123 b allows serial data communication between the microcontroller 2004of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20,and the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 for controllingoperations of the image capture device 106 and/or the stethoscope device134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11B, for medical imaging anddiagnostic examinations.

FIG. 11D exemplarily illustrates a top plan view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the stethoscope device 134connected to the embodiment of the attachment unit 115 shown in FIGS.10A-10B, and the trigger elements 102 comprising the power controltrigger element 103 and the action control trigger element 104positioned on the upper section 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101.The trigger elements 102 control the operation of the stethoscope device134, the laser pointer 132, and the image capture device 106.

FIG. 11E exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the support element 110 onthe lower surface 101 c of the diagnosis control unit 101, the releasebutton 114 positioned on the lower section 101 f of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101, and the stethoscope device 134 connected to theattachment unit 115.

FIG. 11F exemplarily illustrates a left side elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106, the light sources comprising, for example, the lightemitting diodes (LEDs) 125 and the laser pointer 132, and thestethoscope device 134. The attachment unit 115 for the stethoscopedevice 134 is of a length sufficient to permit medical imaging ofanatomical examination areas, and to allow a doctor to view a patient'sbody through the image capture device 106. In an embodiment, theattachment unit 115 is configured to have one of different lengths. Inan embodiment, the length of the attachment unit 115 is selected basedon a function of a focal length of the optical lens 107 of the imagecapture device 106 to facilitate medical imaging.

FIG. 11G exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprising the diagnosis controlunit 101, the attachment unit 115, the image capture device 106, thestethoscope device 134, and the light sources, for example, the lightemitting diodes (LEDs) 125 and the laser pointer 132. The exploded viewshows the trigger elements 102, for example, the power control triggerelement 103 and the action control trigger element 104. The explodedview also shows the support element 110 and the release button 114. Thepower control trigger element 103 and the action control trigger element104 are positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB) 120 housed in acavity 121 of the diagnosis control unit 101. The exploded view alsoshows the connector interface 123 positioned on the rear section 120 aof the PCB 120 and the camera module 124 positioned on the front section120 b of the PCB 120. The image capture device 106 is removablyconnected to the camera module 124 of the diagnosis control unit 101.The camera module 124 is in operable communication with the optical lens107 of the image capture device 106. The stethoscope device 134comprises the touchscreen 135 configured to display informationassociated with operations and controls of the stethoscope device 134. APCB 136 of the stethoscope device 134 is positioned inside a cavity 137of the stethoscope device 134.

FIG. 11G also exemplarily illustrates an electrical configuration of theLEDs 125. As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 11G, wires 127 extendingfrom the PCB 128 of the LEDs 125 are connected to the spring contactconnectors 118 of the attachment unit 115. The spring contact connectors118 of the attachment unit 115 operably connect to the connector pad PCB130 housed in the connector slot 112 of the diagnosis control unit 101.The PCB 128 of the LEDs 125, the LEDs 125, and the light pipes 126 arehoused within the front portion 129 a and the rear portion 129 b of thelight pipe holder 129. The exploded view also shows a PCB 138 and thepower control push button 133 of the laser pointer 132. The PCB 138 ofthe laser pointer 132 is housed in a cavity 139 of the laser pointer132. The power control push button 133 is connected to a power controlpush button PCB 140 that is housed in the cavity 139 of the laserpointer 132.

FIG. 12A exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of anembodiment of the attachment unit 115, showing an ultrasound device 141operably connected to a front end 115 a of the attachment unit 115. Theultrasound device 141 uses high frequency sound waves to create an imageof a body part, for example, stomach, liver, heart, tendons, muscles,joints and blood vessels inside a patient's body. In this embodiment,the attachment unit 115 comprises a light support 117 housing the lightsources, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 13A-13B and FIGS. 13F-13H, on a predefined sectionalong the length of the attachment unit 115, for example, on a section115 e proximal to the rear end 115 b of the attachment unit 115. Theattachment unit 115 for the ultrasound device 141 is of a lengthsufficient to permit medical imaging of anatomical examination areas,and to allow a doctor to view a patient's body through the image capturedevice 106 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 13A. The length of theattachment unit 115 is determined based on the focal length of theoptical lens 107 of the image capture device 106 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 13H.

The ultrasound device 141 comprises a configurable ultrasound probe 142,that is, a replaceable transducer ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe142 is selected based on diagnostics required. The ultrasound device 141further comprises ultrasonic transducer sensors 142 a positioned on theultrasound probe 142. The ultrasonic transducer sensors 142 a areconfigured to receive diagnostic examination data, when the ultrasounddevice 141 is placed in contact with anatomical examination areas. Theultrasound device 141 requires a relatively small opening and hencecentralization of the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 at the section115 e proximal to the rear end 115 b of the attachment unit 115 helps infocusing light during a diagnostic examination using the ultrasounddevice 141.

FIG. 12B exemplarily illustrates a rear perspective view of theembodiment of the attachment unit 115 shown in FIG. 12A, showing thespring contact connectors 118 positioned at the rear end 115 b of theattachment unit 115 for electrically connecting the ultrasound device141 positioned at the front end 115 a of the attachment unit 115 to themicrocontroller 2004 of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 20. If a user, for example, a medical assistantwants to use the ultrasound device 141 with the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, theuser can connect the spring contact connectors 118 of the attachmentunit 115 comprising the ultrasound device 141 exemplarily illustrated inFIGS. 12A-12B, to the connector pads 113 positioned in the connectorslot 112 of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 1B. The ultrasound device 141 connects to the connector pads 113 ofthe diagnosis control unit 101 via the spring contact connectors 118 ofthe attachment unit 115. The spring contact connectors 118 are, forexample, Mill-Max® spring contact connectors of Mill-Max Mfg. Corp. Theultrasonic transducer sensors 142 a of the ultrasound device 141transmit the diagnostic examination data through the ultrasound probe142 and to the diagnosis control unit 101 via the attachment unit 115exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H. The ultrasound device 141communicates the diagnostic examination data with the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 on a local user device 2505 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25, by transmitting the electrical signals generatedby the ultrasonic transducer sensors 142 a of the ultrasound device 141to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 via the connectorinterface 123, for example, the universal serial bus (USB) connectorinterface of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 13H.

FIG. 13A exemplarily illustrates a left side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106 removably connected to the front section 101 a of thediagnosis control unit 101, light sources comprising light emittingdiodes (LEDs) 125 and a laser pointer 132 operably connected to thediagnosis control unit 101, and the ultrasound device 141 operablyconnected to the front end 115 a of the embodiment of the attachmentunit 115 shown in FIGS. 12A-12B. The attachment unit 115 is detachablyconnected to and extends from the front end 101 e of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100comprises trigger elements 102, for example, a power control triggerelement 103 and an action control trigger element 104. The power controltrigger element 103 and the action control trigger element 104 activateand deactivate the ultrasound device 141 connected to the attachmentunit 115, and control initiation and termination of ultrasound imagecapturing and storage. The laser pointer 132 comprises a power controlpush button 133 positioned on the upper section 132 b of the laserpointer 132 for activating or deactivating the laser pointer 132. Thelaser pointer 132 is configured to indicate anatomical examination areason a patient's body to allow a doctor to remotely verify that correctanatomical examination areas are examined. The ultrasound device 141records and transmits the diagnostic examination data, for example, theultrasound image data to the diagnosis control unit 101 via theattachment unit 115.

FIG. 13B exemplarily illustrates a front elevation of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the light sourcescomprising the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 and the laser pointer132, and the ultrasound device 141.

FIG. 13C exemplarily illustrates a rear elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the connectorinterface 123 configured at the rear section 101 g of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The connector interface 123 comprising at least twoconnector elements 123 a and 123 b is in communication with theultrasound device 141 connected to the front end 115 a of the attachmentunit 115 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 12A, via the connector slot 112configured at the front end 101 e of the diagnosis control unit 101exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1B, to receive the diagnosticexamination data, for example, the ultrasound image data recorded by theultrasound device 141. The connector elements 123 a and 123 b of theconnector interface 123 allow communication of the ultrasound image datato the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25. The connector element 123 a or 123 b allowsserial data communication between the microcontroller 2004 of thediagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, and themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 for controlling operations ofthe image capture device 106 and/or the ultrasound device 141exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13B, for medical imaging anddiagnostic examinations.

FIG. 13D exemplarily illustrates a top plan view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing trigger elements 102comprising the power control trigger element 103 and the action controltrigger element 104 positioned on the upper section 101 b of thediagnosis control unit 101, a light source, for example, the laserpointer 132, the image capture device 106, and the ultrasound device141. The trigger elements 102 control the operation of the ultrasounddevice 141, the laser pointer 132, and the image capture device 106.

FIG. 13E exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the support element 110 onthe lower surface 101 c of the diagnosis control unit 101, the releasebutton 114 positioned on the lower section 101 f of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101, and the ultrasound device 141 connected to theattachment unit 115.

FIGS. 13F-13G exemplarily illustrate side elevation views of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106, the light source, for example, the laser pointer 132operably connected to the upper section 101 b of the diagnosis controlunit 101, and the ultrasound device 141 operably connected to the frontend 115 a of the attachment unit 115.

FIG. 13H exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprising the diagnosis controlunit 101, the attachment unit 115, the image capture device 106, theultrasound device 141, and the light sources, for example, the lightemitting diodes (LEDs) 125 and the laser pointer 132. The exploded viewshows the trigger elements 102, for example, the power control triggerelement 103 and the action control trigger element 104. The explodedview also shows the support element 110 and the release button 114. Thepower control trigger element 103 and the action control trigger element104 are positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB) 120 housed in acavity 121 of the diagnosis control unit 101. The exploded view alsoshows the connector interface 123 positioned on the rear section 120 aof the PCB 120 and the camera module 124 positioned on the front section120 b of the PCB 120. The image capture device 106 is removablyconnected to the camera module 124 of the diagnosis control unit 101.The camera module 124 is in operable communication with the optical lens107 of the image capture device 106. A PCB 143 of the ultrasound device141 is positioned inside a cavity 144 of the ultrasound device 141.

FIG. 13H also exemplarily illustrates an electrical configuration of thelight emitting diodes (LEDs) 125. As exemplarily illustrated in FIG.13H, wires 127 extending from the PCB 128 of the LEDs 125 are connectedto the spring contact connectors 118 of the attachment unit 115. Thespring contact connectors 118 of the attachment unit 115 operablyconnect to the connector pad PCB 130 housed in the connector slot 112 ofthe diagnosis control unit 101. The PCB 128 of the LEDs 125, the LEDs125, and the light pipes 126 are housed within the front portion 129 aand the rear portion 129 b of the light pipe holder 129. The explodedview also shows a PCB 138 and the power control push button 133 of thelaser pointer 132. The PCB 138 of the laser pointer 132 is housed in acavity 139 of the laser pointer 132. The power control push button 133is connected to a power control push button PCB 140 that is housed inthe cavity 139 of the laser pointer 132.

FIG. 14A exemplarily illustrates a left side elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing an embodimentwhere a diagnosis assistance element 145 is removably connected to alower section 115 f of the attachment unit 115. In an embodiment, thediagnosis assistance element 145 is a conventional tongue depressor of apredetermined length that can be used, for example, for throatdiagnostic examination. The image capture device 106 is removablyconnected to the front section 101 a of the diagnosis control unit 101to capture images of, for example, a patient's throat during the throatdiagnostic examination.

FIG. 14B exemplarily illustrates a front elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing an embodimentwhere a supplementary attachment slot 146 is positioned on the lowersection 115 f of the attachment unit 115 below the front end 115 a ofthe attachment unit 115, for inserting the diagnosis assistance element145. In an embodiment, the supplementary attachment slot 146accommodates the diagnosis assistance element 145, for example, a tonguedepressor of a predefined length exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.14A-14G and FIGS. 14J-14M, for facilitating the diagnostic examinations.In an embodiment, the supplementary attachment slot 146 for thediagnosis assistance element 145 is, for example, about 75% of thelength of the diagnosis assistance element 145 for facilitatingadjustable positioning of the diagnosis assistance element 145 in thesupplementary attachment slot 146. In an embodiment, the diagnosisassistance element 145 is configured as a standard disposable tonguedepressor.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 14B, a light support 117 positionedon the front section 115 c of the attachment unit 115 houses the lightsources, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125. In anembodiment, the light sources are, for example, set of five LEDs 125arranged in a circle on the front section 115 c of the attachment unit115 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The LEDs125 are configured to illuminate and indicate one or more anatomicalexamination areas during medical imaging and diagnostic examinations. Inan embodiment, light sources, for example, LEDs (not shown) arepositioned on the edge 145 a of the diagnosis assistance element 145. Inthis embodiment, the positioning of the light sources at the edge 145 aof the diagnosis assistance element 145 improves viewing and examinationof hidden items inside a patient's oral cavity that are not visible to adoctor during a typical medical diagnostic examination such as a dentalcheckup. In this embodiment, a clear plastic sheet can be attached tothe edge 145 a of the diagnosis assistance element 145 for covering andprotecting the light sources.

FIG. 14C exemplarily illustrates a right side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106 removably connected to the front section 101 a of thediagnosis control unit 101 and the diagnosis assistance element 145connected to the attachment unit 115.

FIG. 14D exemplarily illustrates a left side perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106 removably connected to the front section 101 a of thediagnosis control unit 101 and the diagnosis assistance element 145connected to the attachment unit 115.

FIG. 14E exemplarily illustrates a top perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106 and the diagnosis assistance element 145.

FIG. 14F exemplarily illustrates a bottom perspective view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106, the diagnosis assistance element 145, the supportelement 110, and the release button 114. The support element 110 ispositioned on the lower surface 101 c of the diagnosis control unit 101.The release button 114 is positioned on the lower section 101 f of thediagnosis control unit 101.

FIG. 14G exemplarily illustrates an exploded view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprising the diagnosis controlunit 101, the attachment unit 115, the image capture device 106, and thediagnosis assistance element 145. The exploded view shows the triggerelements 102 comprising, for example, the power control trigger element103, the action control trigger element 104, and two output modificationtrigger elements 105 a and 105 b. The exploded view also shows thesupport element 110 and the release button 114. The power controltrigger element 103 and the action control trigger element 104 arepositioned on a printed circuit board (PCB) 120 housed in a cavity 121of the diagnosis control unit 101. The exploded view also shows theconnector interface 123 positioned on the rear section 120 a of the PCB120 and the camera module 124 positioned on the front section 120 b ofthe PCB 120. The image capture device 106 is removably connected to thecamera module 124 of the diagnosis control unit 101. The camera module124 is in operable communication with the optical lens 107 of the imagecapture device 106. FIG. 14G also exemplarily illustrates an electricalconfiguration of the light sources, for example, the light emittingdiodes (LEDs) 125. As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 14G, wires 127extending from the PCB 128 of the LEDs 125 are connected to the springcontact connectors 118 of the attachment unit 115. The spring contactconnectors 118 of the attachment unit 115 operably connect to theconnector pad PCB 130 housed in the connector slot 112 of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The PCB 128 of the LEDs 125, the LEDs 125, and thelight pipes 126 are housed within the front portion 129 a and the rearportion 129 b of the light pipe holder 129.

FIG. 14H exemplarily illustrates a front elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the diagnosisassistance element 145 extending from the front section 115 c of theattachment unit 115, and the light sources comprising, for example, thelight emitting diodes (LEDs) 125.

FIG. 14I exemplarily illustrates a rear elevation view of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the connectorinterface 123 configured at the rear section 101 g of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 14I, the connectorinterface 123 comprises at least two connector elements 123 a and 123 b.The connector interface 123 is in communication with the image capturedevice 106 connected to the front section 101 a of the diagnosis controlunit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 14C-14D, to receive diagnosticimage data, for example, images of a patient's throat captured by theimage capture device 106. The connector elements 123 a and 123 b of theconnector interface 123 allow communication of the diagnostic image datato the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25. The connector element 123 a or 123 b allowsserial data communication between the microcontroller 2004 of thediagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, and themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 for controlling operations ofthe image capture device 106 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 14A-14H,for medical imaging and diagnostic examinations.

FIG. 14J exemplarily illustrates a top plan view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the image capture device106, the trigger elements 102 comprising the power control triggerelement 103, the action control trigger element 104, and the outputmodification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b, and the diagnosisassistance element 145.

FIG. 14K exemplarily illustrates a bottom view of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the diagnosis assistanceelement 145, the support element 110 on the lower surface 101 c of thediagnosis control unit 101, and the release button 114 on the lowersection 101 f of the diagnosis control unit 101.

FIGS. 14L-14M exemplarily illustrate side elevation views of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, showing the imagecapture device 106, the trigger elements 102 comprising the powercontrol trigger element 103, the action control trigger element 104, andthe output modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b, the diagnosisassistance element 145, and the support element 110.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method for facilitating medical imaging and remotediagnostic examinations. In the method disclosed herein, themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 configured tocommunicate with the medical diagnostic examination system 2506accessible on a local user device 2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.25, via a connector interface 123 configured at the rear section 101 gof the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5F,FIG. 11G, FIG. 13H, and FIG. 14G, is provided 1501. In an embodiment,the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 is configured towirelessly communicate with the medical diagnostic examination system2506 accessible on the local user device 2505 via a communicationnetwork 2509 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, for example, aBluetooth® communication network of Bluetooth Sig, Inc., a Wi-Fi®communication network of the Wi-Fi Alliance Corporation, etc. In thisembodiment, the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 isconfigured as a wireless multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100, for example, a Bluetooth® enabled multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus, or a Wi-Fi® enabled multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus. The method disclosed herein provides a fast andeasy way of activating and controlling the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 via the medical diagnostic examination system2506 accessible on the local user device 2505.

The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprises thediagnosis control unit 101, the attachment unit 115, and the imagecapture device 106 as disclosed in the detailed description of FIGS.1A-14M. The diagnosis control unit 101 comprises the microcontroller2004 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, in operable communication withmultiple trigger elements 102 positioned on a predefined section, forexample, an upper section 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101, andwith the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 via the connectorinterface 123. The attachment unit 115 operably connects differentmedical diagnostic devices, for example, the otoscope device 119exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, an ophthalmoscope device (notshown), the stethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.11A-11G, the dermatoscope device 131 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8,the ultrasound device 141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, anendoscope device (not shown), etc., interchangeably to the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. In an embodiment, a different attachment unit 115 isprovided for each medical diagnostic device. By changing the attachmentunit 115 with a particular medical diagnostic device, a user, forexample, a medical assistant can modify the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 comprising the image capture device 106 forfour different diagnostic examinations. For example, when the medicalassistant wants to use the otoscope device 119 and then anophthalmoscope, the user can replace the attachment unit 115 comprisingthe otoscope device 119 with an attachment unit 115 comprising anophthalmoscope device, and adjust brightness levels of the light emittedby the light sources, for example, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125that are operably connected to the front section 115 c of the respectiveattachment unit 115.

The microcontroller 2004 detects 1502 an operable connection of theimage capture device 106 and/or a medical diagnostic device to thediagnosis control unit 101 via the attachment unit 115. Themicrocontroller 2004 receives 1503 actuation signals from one or more ofthe trigger elements 102. In an embodiment, the actuation signals aregenerated by a simultaneous activation or a subsequent activation of oneor more of the trigger elements 102 positioned on the upper section 101b of the diagnosis control unit 101. As used herein, “simultaneousactivation” refers to activation of two trigger elements 103 and 104 atthe same time for generating actuation signals. Also, as used herein,“subsequent activation” refers to activation of one trigger element 103or 104 after another for generating actuation signals. Themicrocontroller 2004 processes 1504 the received actuation signals togenerate action control signals configured to indicate one or moreactions to be performed by the image capture device 106 and/or themedical diagnostic device interchangeably connected to the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 via the attachment unit 115.

In an embodiment, the microcontroller 2004 generates and transmitsaction control signals to one or more of multiple light sources, forexample, light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 operably connected to thefront section 115 c of the attachment unit 115, a predefined sectionsuch as the section 115 e along the length of the attachment unit 115,and/or the upper section 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101, forilluminating and indicating one or more anatomical examination areasduring medical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations. Theilluminated and indicated anatomical examination areas are viewed andselected remotely on a remote user device 2511 via the communicationnetwork 2509 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, for the remotediagnostic examinations.

In an embodiment, the medical diagnostic device is a stethoscope device134 comprising a digital signal processor 2204 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 22. In an embodiment, the microcontroller 2004 generates andtransmits action control signals to the digital signal processor 2204 ofthe stethoscope device 134 for actuating the stethoscope device 134 toperform the actions indicated by the generated action control signals.In an embodiment, the stethoscope device 134 comprises one or moremicrophones 2201 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22. In an embodiment,the microcontroller 2004 generates and transmits action control signalsto the digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134 foractuating the microphones 2201 to receive diagnostic acoustic data fromone or more anatomical examination areas. In an embodiment, thestethoscope device 134 comprises a touchscreen 135. In an embodiment,the microcontroller 2004 generates and transmits action control signalsto the digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134 foractuating the touchscreen 135 to display information, for example,associated with the diagnostic acoustic data received by the stethoscopedevice 134, a connection status of the stethoscope device 134 to thediagnosis control unit 101, an activation status of the stethoscopedevice 134, etc. In an embodiment, the stethoscope device 134 comprisesa real time clock 2206 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22. In anembodiment, the microcontroller 2004 generates and transmits actioncontrol signals to the digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscopedevice 134 for actuating the real time clock 2206 to control recordingof the diagnostic acoustic data by the stethoscope device 134 for apredefined time period.

In an embodiment, the medical diagnostic device is an ultrasound device141 comprising an ultrasound digital signal processor 2404 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 24. In an embodiment, the microcontroller 2004generates and transmits action control signals to the ultrasound digitalsignal processor 2404 of the ultrasound device 141 for actuating theultrasound device 141 to perform the actions indicated by the generatedaction control signals. In an embodiment, the ultrasound device 141comprises one of multiple interchangeable ultrasound probes 142 operablyconnected to the attachment unit 115. In an embodiment, themicrocontroller 2004 generates and transmits action control signals tothe ultrasound digital signal processor 2404 of the ultrasound device141 for actuating an interchangeable ultrasound probe 142 of theultrasound device 141 to detect and receive ultrasonic sounds from oneor more anatomical examination areas for remote diagnostic examinations.

The camera module 124 of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 5F, FIG. 11G, FIG. 13H, and FIG. 14G, processes 1505the diagnostic image data captured by the image capture device 106. Themicrocontroller 2004 facilitates 1506 transmission of the processeddiagnostic image data from the camera module 124 and the diagnosticexamination data of multiple formats from the medical diagnostic device,to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 accessible on thelocal user device 2505 via the connector interface 123 of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The diagnostic examination data comprises, forexample, audio data, video data, image data, etc., and any combinationthereof. The connector interface 123 is in communication with the cameramodule 124 and the medical diagnostic device via the attachment unit 115to receive and transmit the processed diagnostic image data and thediagnostic examination data to the medical diagnostic examination system2506. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 on the local userdevice 2505 is in communication with a remote user device 2511 over thecommunication network 2509 to facilitate remote viewing, remoteselection, and remote diagnostic examinations of the anatomicalexamination areas via the communication network 2509. In an embodiment,the microcontroller 2004 transmits diagnostic data management signals tothe medical diagnostic examination system 2506 accessible on the localuser device 2505 via the connector interface 123 of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 for managing the transmitted diagnostic image data andthe transmitted diagnostic examination data.

Consider an example where a user, for example, a medical assistantconnects the image capture device 106 to the diagnosis control unit 101of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 and themicrocontroller 2004 detects the connection of the image capture device106 to the diagnosis control unit 101. The medical assistant who isoperating the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100activates the action control trigger element 104. On detectingactivation of the action control trigger element 104, themicrocontroller 2004 generates an action control signal indicating anaction of capturing diagnostic image data by the image capture device106. The diagnostic image data that the image capture device 106captures comprises, for example, one or more images of an anatomicalexamination area of a patient. The camera module 124 processes thediagnostic image data. The microcontroller 2004 verifies whether aconnector hub interface 2002 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, isactive for processing transmission of the diagnostic image data from theimage capture device 106 to the medical diagnostic examination system2506 deployed, for example, on the medical assistant's local user device2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, for example, a computing devicesuch as a laptop or a tablet computing device. If the microcontroller2004 verifies that the connector hub interface 2002 is active, themicrocontroller 2004 sends a diagnostic data management signal to themedical diagnostic examination system 2506, for example, via a RS-232port for recording the diagnostic image data captured by the imagecapture device 106. The camera module 124 transmits the processeddiagnostic image data to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506via the connector interface 123. The medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 comprises a graphical diagnostic examination interface(GDEI) 2507 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 renders the diagnostic image data received ascamera output from the camera module 124 on the GDEI 2507. For example,the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 renders high definition(HD) images of the anatomical examination area being recorded by theimage capture device 106 in real time on the GDEI 2507. The medicalassistant captures, for example, a screenshot of the rendered diagnosticimage data and saves the screenshot in a local memory of the local userdevice 2505 or shares the captured screenshots with another user, forexample, a doctor at a remote location in real time via an audio/videoconference set up between the local user device 2505 of the medicalassistant and a remote user device 2511 of the doctor, for remotediagnostic examinations.

FIG. 16 illustrates a computer implemented method for performing medicalimaging and remote diagnostic examinations, in communication with themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 25. The computer implemented method disclosed herein employs themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 accessible on a local userdevice 2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 communicates with the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1A-14M, viathe connector interface 123 of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 or the communication network 2509 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 25. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 comprises atleast one processor configured to execute computer program instructionsfor performing medical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations. Themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 receives 1601 a connectionstatus of the image capture device 106 and/or a medical diagnosticdevice, for example, an otoscope device 119 exemplarily illustrated inFIGS. 5A-5L, or an ophthalmoscope device (not shown), or a stethoscopedevice 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, or a dermatoscopedevice 131 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, or an ultrasound device141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, or an endoscope device(not shown), etc., from the microcontroller 2004 of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, via the connectorinterface 123.

The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 renders and indicates1602 anatomical examination areas to be diagnostically examined usingthe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, on the graphicaldiagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 provided by the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25,based on the received connection status of the image capture device 106and/or the medical diagnostic device. The medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 receives 1603 user selections for recording diagnostic imagedata and/or diagnostic examination data from one or more of theindicated anatomical examination areas via the GDEI 2507. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 receives 1604 the processeddiagnostic image data from the camera module 124 and diagnosticexamination data from the medical diagnostic device based on thereceived user selections via the connector interface 123.

The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 dynamically converts 1605the received diagnostic image data and the received diagnosticexamination data to digital diagnostic image data and digital diagnosticexamination data of multiple formats respectively. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 renders 1606 the digital diagnosticimage data and the digital diagnostic examination data on the graphicaldiagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 for facilitating remotediagnostic examinations. In an embodiment, the digital diagnosticexamination data is in a format comprising, for example, audio fileformats, video file formats, image file formats, etc. In an embodiment,the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 dynamically updates thedigital diagnostic image data and the digital diagnostic examinationdata based on the received diagnostic image data and the receiveddiagnostic examination data at a predefined time period, and displaysthe updated digital diagnostic image data and the digital diagnosticexamination data on the GDEI 2507. In an embodiment, the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 transmits the digital diagnosticimage data and the digital diagnostic examination data to a dedicatedserver such as the data management server 2510 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 25, based on user inputs received via the GDEI 2507 for storingthe digital diagnostic image data and the digital diagnostic examinationdata on the data management server 2510.

The graphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 is configuredas a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)compliant interface for media based conferencing. In this embodiment,the GDEI is configured as a video conferencing application programminginterface (API) that is compliant with the HIPAA standards for mediabased conferencing, for example, audio and/or video conferencing. ThisGDEI 2507 is configured similar to an API of the Skype® softwareapplication of Skype Corporation or Adobe® connect of Adobe SystemsIncorporated, but in compliance to the HIPAA standards. A user, forexample, a doctor using the medical diagnostic examination system 2506can remotely view the diagnostic image data and the diagnosticexamination data in real time via this GDEI 2507 through a video/audioconference with a patient or a medical assistant. A user, for example, amedical assistant who operates the image capture device 106 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 has to activate ascreen sharing mode on the GDEI 2507 for facilitating medical imagingand remote diagnostic examinations of one or more anatomical examinationareas of the patient. For example, a medical assistant activates thescreen sharing mode on the GDEI 2507 to enable a doctor using themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 to remotely view thediagnostic image data and the diagnostic examination data in real timevia a video/audio conference configured over a high speed network, forexample, Google Fiber® of Google Inc., that offers a data speed of about1 gigabit per second (Gbps). The data speed that Google Fiber® offers isfaster than the data speed of about 25 Megabits per second (Mbps) thatconventional internet providers typically offer. The image capturedevice 106 used in this video/audio conference, comprises a high speeduniversal serial bus (USB) 3.0 camera, for example, a 5 Gbps USB 3.0camera, for facilitating medical imaging and remote diagnosticexaminations of the anatomical examination areas with an enhanced imagequality. The user activates the screen sharing mode on the GDEI 2507typically during diagnostic examinations performed with the medicaldiagnostic devices, for example, the stethoscope device 134 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, the ultrasound device 141 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, etc. In another embodiment, the imagecapture device 106 comprises a web camera, for example, a USB 3.0 webcamera for facilitating medical imaging and remote diagnosticexaminations of the anatomical examination areas of a patient withoutactivating the screen sharing mode on the GDEI 2507. The user activatesthe web camera mode typically during diagnostic examinations performedwith the medical diagnostic devices, for example, the otoscope device119 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, the dermatoscope device 131exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, the diagnosis assistance element 145such as a tongue depressor exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 14A-14H andFIGS. 14J-14M, etc.

FIG. 17 illustrates a computer implemented method for facilitatingmedical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations of one or moreanatomical examination areas via the graphical diagnostic examinationinterface (GDEI) 2507 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. The methoddisclosed herein employs the medical diagnostic examination system 2506exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, comprising at least one processorconfigured to execute computer program instructions for facilitatingmedical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations of one or moreanatomical examination areas. The medical diagnostic examination system2506, in operable communication with the diagnosis control unit 101 ofthe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 1A-14M, provides 1701 the GDEI 2507. The GDEI 2507of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 is in operablecommunication with the diagnosis control unit 101 of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.1A-14M. The GDEI 2507 is configured to render and indicate one or moreanatomical examination areas to be diagnostically examined using themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 based on theconnection status of the image capture device 106 and a medicaldiagnostic device, for example, an otoscope device 119 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, or an ophthalmoscope device (not shown), ora stethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, or adermatoscope device 131 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, or anultrasound device 141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, or anendoscope device (not shown), etc., to the diagnosis control unit 101.The GDEI 2507 dynamically displays 1702 one or more of multipleinterface elements on the rendered anatomical examination areas.

The graphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 receives 1703user inputs through one or more of the dynamically displayed interfaceelements for selectively activating the image capture device 106 and/orthe medical diagnostic device for initiating recording of diagnosticimage data associated with the anatomical examination areas by the imagecapture device 106 and diagnostic examination data associated with theanatomical examination areas by the medical diagnostic device. In anembodiment, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 stores therecorded diagnostic image data and the recorded diagnostic examinationdata in one or more formats. In an embodiment, the GDEI dynamicallydisplays an updated status of diagnostic examination data based onsubsequent diagnostic image data and subsequent diagnostic examinationdata received from the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100by the medical diagnostic examination system 2506.

Consider an example where a user, for example, a medical assistantconnects the stethoscope device 134 to the diagnosis control unit 101 ofthe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 via the attachmentunit 115. The medical assistant selects a microphone option or astethoscope option on the graphical diagnostic examination interface(GDEI) 2507 to allow the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 torecognize the stethoscope device 134 as an audio/sound device, forexample, a microphone on his/her local user device 2505 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25. The medical assistant selects an interfaceelement 2702 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 27A, followed by aninterface element 2708 or 2709 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 27C, forrecording the diagnostic examination data at the heart or the lungs of apatient respectively, using the stethoscope device 134. Consider thatthe medical assistant is in an audio/video conference with a doctor at aremote location who is using the medical diagnostic examination system2506 on his/her remote user device 2511. The doctor therefore, in realtime views the anatomical examination areas on the GDEI 2507 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 27D and FIG. 27F, and requests the medical assistantto record diagnostic examination data at one of the anatomicalexamination areas. The medical assistant activates the action controltrigger element 104 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100 to start recording the diagnostic examination data at the anatomicalexamination areas indicated by the doctor. On detecting activation ofthe action control trigger element 104 and connection of the stethoscopedevice 134 to the diagnosis control unit 101, the microcontroller 2004generates an action control signal indicating an action of recordingdiagnostic examination data by the stethoscope device 134. Thediagnostic examination data recorded by the stethoscope device 134comprises, for example, audio data of the anatomical examination areassuch as the heart, the lungs, or the bowel, of the patient.

The microcontroller 2004 verifies whether the connector hub interface2002 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, is active for allowingtransmission of the diagnostic examination data from the stethoscopedevice 134 to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 on themedical assistant's local user device 2505. If the microcontroller 2004verifies that the connector hub interface 2002 is active, themicrocontroller 2004 sends a diagnostic data management signal to themedical diagnostic examination system 2506, for example, via a RS-232port for recording the diagnostic examination data. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 starts recording the audio data fromthe stethoscope device 134 in real time.

The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 records the audio data,converts the recorded audio data to a waveform (WAV) audio file format,creates a .WAV file of a configurable recording duration of about 1minute, and stores the created .WAV file on a Health InsurancePortability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant hard drive, or aHIPAA compliant dedicated server, or a HIPAA compliant server in a cloudcomputing environment. As used herein, “cloud computing environment”refers to a processing environment comprising configurable computingphysical and logical resources, for example, networks, servers, storage,applications, services, etc., and data distributed over a communicationnetwork 2509, for example, the internet. The cloud computing environmentprovides on-demand network access to a shared pool of the configurablecomputing physical and logical resources. The medical assistant storesand/or shares the created .WAV files with the doctor via the audio/videoconference for remote diagnostic examination. The doctor listens toaudio output, that is, the audio data recorded by the stethoscope device134 at the patient's heart, lungs, and/or bowel in real time. Similarly,the medical assistant can replace the stethoscope device 134 with anultrasound device 141 and select another interface element 2706 on thegraphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 27A, for recording the diagnostic examination datausing the ultrasound device 141. The microcontroller 2004 detects theconnection of the ultrasound device 141 to the diagnosis control unit101 and the activation of the action control trigger element 104 andallows the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 to record andstore the ultrasound image data on a HIPAA compliant hard drive, or aHIPAA compliant dedicated server, or a HIPAA compliant server in a cloudcomputing environment for remote diagnostic examination.

FIGS. 18A-18E exemplarily illustrate a flowchart comprising the stepsperformed by the microcontroller 2004 of the diagnosis control unit 101exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, for facilitating medical imaging andremote diagnostic examinations. When a user, for example, a medicalassistant powers on 1801 the diagnosis control unit 101, themicrocontroller 2004 recognizes and auto detects a communication (COM)port, for example, a RS-232 port for communicating with the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 accessible on a local user device2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. The microcontroller 2004identifies and verifies 1802 which one of multiple medical diagnosticdevices, for example, the otoscope device 119 exemplarily illustrated inFIGS. 5A-5L, an ophthalmoscope device (not shown), the stethoscopedevice 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, the dermatoscopedevice 131 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, the ultrasound device 141exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, an endoscope device (notshown), etc., is connected to the diagnosis control unit 101 via theattachment unit 115. The microcontroller 2004 checks 1803 whether thelight sources, for example, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 areconnected to the attachment unit 115, and whether the image capturedevice 106 is connected to the diagnosis control unit 101. Themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprising the imagecapture device 106 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1A-14M can be used,for example, as a general examination device, an otoscope device 119, astethoscope device 134, or a dermatoscope device 131, or an ultrasounddevice 141.

If the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 are not connected, themicrocontroller 2004 does not control 1807 the operation of the LEDs125. When only the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 and the imagecapture device 106 are connected to the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100, the two trigger elements 105 a and 105 b, forexample, push buttons positioned on the upper section 101 b of thediagnosis control unit 101 are used to control brightness levels of theLEDs 125. The user presses 1804 the output modification trigger elements105 a and 105 b for controlling brightness of the LEDs 125, and themicrocontroller 2004 receives actuation signals from the outputmodification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b. The microcontroller 2004checks 1805 whether a “+” output modification trigger element 105 b ispressed by the user. If the “+” output modification trigger element 105b is pressed, then the microcontroller 2004 increases 1806 thebrightness of light emitted from the LEDs 125. If the “+” outputmodification trigger element 105 b is not pressed, then themicrocontroller 2004 does not control 1807 the operation of the LEDs125. The microcontroller 2004 checks 1808 whether a “−” outputmodification trigger element 105 a is pressed by the user. If the “−”output modification trigger element 105 a is pressed, then themicrocontroller 2004 decreases 1809 the brightness of light emitted fromthe LEDs 125. If the “−” output modification trigger element 105 a isnot pressed, then the microcontroller 2004 does not control 1807 theoperation of the LEDs 125.

The microcontroller 2004 also checks 1810 the status of the actioncontrol trigger element 104 positioned on the upper section 101 b of thediagnosis control unit 101 for controlling operation of the imagecapture device 106. The user can activate the image capture device 106by applying a momentary press on the action control trigger element 104.The microcontroller 2004 checks 1811 whether the action control triggerelement 104 is pressed. If the action control trigger element 104 is notpressed, then the microcontroller 2004 does not control 1807 operationof the image capture device 106. If the action control trigger element104 is pressed, then the microcontroller 2004 checks 1816 whether theaction control trigger element 104 is pressed for more than two seconds.If the action control trigger element 104 is not pressed for more thantwo seconds, then a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART)2005 of the microcontroller 2004 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20,sends 1817 a command through a diagnostic data management signal to themedical diagnostic examination system 2506, for example, via a RS-232port to capture diagnostic image data received from the image capturedevice 106 via the connector interface 123 of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100. The microcontroller 2004 checks1818 whether the power control trigger element 103 is pressed along withpressing the action control trigger element 104 for more than twoseconds. If the power control trigger element 103 is not pressed and theaction control trigger element 104 is pressed for more than two seconds,then the UART 2005 of the microcontroller 2004 sends 1819 a commandthrough a diagnostic data management signal to the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 to transfer the diagnostic image data to a datamanagement server 2510 for storage, to another local user device via theconnector interface 123, or to a remote user device 2511 over acommunication network 2509 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, forfacilitating medical imaging and remote diagnostic examination. If theaction control trigger element 104 is pressed for more than two secondsand the power control trigger element 103 is also pressed, then the UART2005 of the microcontroller 2004 sends 1820 a command through adiagnostic data management signal to the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 to delete the diagnostic image data. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 receives the diagnostic data management signalsfrom the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, for example,via RS-232 ports of the local user device 2505 that deploys the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 and performs data managementcomprising, for example, recording, transferring, or deletion of thediagnostic image data based on the received diagnostic data managementsignals.

The microcontroller 2004 then checks 1812 whether the stethoscope device134 is connected to the attachment unit 115 along with the LEDs 125. Ifthe stethoscope device 134 is connected, the microcontroller 2004 checks1827 the status of filters of the stethoscope device 134 for filteringdiagnostic acoustic data received by the stethoscope device 134. Afterfiltering the diagnostic acoustic data, the universal asynchronousreceiver/transmitter (UART) 2005 of the microcontroller 2004 sends 1828a command through a diagnostic data management signal to the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 to record the diagnostic acousticdata, for example, from the heart or lungs of a patient. In anembodiment, the microcontroller 2004 checks whether another lightsource, for example, a laser pointer 132 is connected on the uppersection 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101. The microcontroller2004 checks 1829 the status of the action control trigger element 104.The microcontroller 2004 then checks 1830 whether the action controltrigger element 104 is pressed. The microcontroller 2004 then checks1831 whether the action control trigger element 104 is pressed for morethan two seconds. If the action control trigger element 104 is notpressed for more than two seconds, then the UART 2005 of themicrocontroller 2004 sends 1832 a command through a diagnostic datamanagement signal to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 torecord diagnostic acoustic data received from the stethoscope device134.

The microcontroller 2004 also checks 1833 whether the power controltrigger element 103 is pressed along with the action control triggerelement 104 for more than two seconds. If the action control triggerelement 104 is pressed for more than two seconds and the power controltrigger element 103 is not pressed, then the UART 2005 of themicrocontroller 2004 sends 1834 a command through a diagnostic datamanagement signal to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 totransfer the diagnostic acoustic data to the data management server 2510for storage, and/or to a local user device 2505 that is in communicationwith a remote user device 2511 over a communication network 2509 forfacilitating remote diagnostic examination. If the action controltrigger element 104 is pressed for more than two seconds along with thepower control trigger element 103, then the UART 2005 of themicrocontroller 2004 sends 1835 a command through a diagnostic datamanagement signal to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 todelete the diagnostic acoustic data. The medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 receives the diagnostic data management signals from themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, for example, viaRS-232 ports of the local user device 2505 that deploys the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 and performs data managementcomprising, for example, recording, transferring, or deletion of thediagnostic acoustic data from the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 comprising the stethoscope device 134 based on thereceived diagnostic data management signals.

In an embodiment, the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100with the stethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.11A-11G, comprises output modification trigger elements (not shown)similar to the output modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 bpositioned on the upper section 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3. The microcontroller 2004 checks 1813whether two output modification trigger elements are pressedsimultaneously. If the output modification trigger elements are pressed1804 subsequently, then the output modification trigger elements areused for adjusting and controlling the brightness of light from the LEDs125. The microcontroller 2004 checks 1814 whether the outputmodification trigger elements are pressed simultaneously for more thantwo seconds. If the output modification trigger elements are not pressedsimultaneously for more than two seconds, then the microcontroller 2004does not control 1807 volume of diagnostic acoustic data received fromthe stethoscope device 134. If the output modification trigger elementsare pressed simultaneously, then the output modification triggerelements control 1821 audio volume of the stethoscope device 134. Themicrocontroller 2004 checks 1822 whether the “+” output modificationtrigger element is pressed. If the “+” output modification triggerelement is pressed, then the stethoscope device 134 increases 1823volume of the diagnostic acoustic data received by the stethoscopedevice 134. If the “+” output modification trigger element is notpressed, then the microcontroller 2004 does not control 1824 the volumeof the stethoscope device 134. The microcontroller 2004 checks 1825whether the “−” output modification trigger element is pressed. If the“−” output modification trigger element is pressed, then the stethoscopedevice 134 decreases 1826 the volume of the diagnostic acoustic datareceived by the stethoscope device 134. If the “−” output modificationtrigger element is not pressed, then the microcontroller 2004 does notcontrol 1824 the volume of the stethoscope device 134.

The microcontroller 2004 then checks 1815 whether the ultrasound device141 is connected to the attachment unit 115 along with the LEDs 125. Inan embodiment, the microcontroller 2004 checks whether another lightsource, for example, a laser pointer 132 is connected on the uppersection 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101. In an embodiment, themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 with the ultrasounddevice 141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, comprises outputmodification trigger elements (not shown) similar to the outputmodification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b positioned on the uppersection 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 3. The microcontroller 2004 checks 1836 whether two outputmodification trigger elements are pressed simultaneously. If the outputmodification trigger elements are pressed 1804 subsequently, then theoutput modification trigger elements are used for adjusting andcontrolling brightness of light from the LEDs 125. If the outputmodification trigger elements are pressed simultaneously, then theoutput modification trigger elements are used for image zooming control.The microcontroller 2004 checks 1837 whether the output modificationtrigger elements are pressed simultaneously for more than two seconds.If the output modification trigger elements are not pressedsimultaneously for more than two seconds, then the microcontroller 2004does not control 1807 image zoom of diagnostic examination datacomprising, for example, ultrasound image data received from theultrasound device 141. If the output modification trigger elements arepressed simultaneously for more than two seconds, then the outputmodification trigger elements control 1838 image zooming of thediagnostic examination data. The microcontroller 2004 checks 1839whether a “+” output modification trigger element is pressed. If the “+”output modification trigger element is pressed, then the universalasynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) 2005 of the microcontroller2004 sends 1840 a command “1” to the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 to increase zoom of the diagnostic examination datadisplayed on the graphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25. If the “+” output modification trigger elementis not pressed, then the microcontroller 2004 does not control 1841ultrasound image zooming. The microcontroller 2004 checks 1842 whether a“−” output modification trigger element is pressed. If the “−” outputmodification trigger element is pressed, then the UART 2005 of themicrocontroller 2004 sends 1843 a command “0” to the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 to decrease zoom of the diagnostic examinationdata displayed on the GDEI 2507 of the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506. If the “−” output modification trigger element is notpressed, then the microcontroller 2004 does not control 1841 ultrasoundimage zooming.

The microcontroller 2004 then checks 1844 the status of the actioncontrol trigger element 104. If the action control trigger element 104is active, then the microcontroller 2004 checks 1845 whether the actioncontrol trigger element 104 is pressed. If the action control triggerelement 104 is not pressed, then the microcontroller 2004 does notcontrol 1846 operation of the ultrasound device 141. The microcontroller2004 then checks 1847 whether the action control trigger element 104 ispressed for more than two seconds. If the action control trigger element104 is not pressed for more than two seconds, then the universalasynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) 2005 of the microcontroller2004 sends 1848 a command through a diagnostic data management signal tothe medical diagnostic examination system 2506 to record the diagnosticexamination data from the ultrasound device 141. The microcontroller2004 then checks 1849 whether the power control trigger element 103 ispressed along with the action control trigger element 104 being pressedfor more than two seconds. If the action control trigger element 104 ispressed for more than two seconds and the power control trigger element103 is not pressed, then the UART 2005 of the microcontroller 2004 sends1850 a command through a diagnostic data management signal to themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 to transfer the diagnosticexamination data to the data management server 2510 for storage and/orto a local user device 2505 for facilitating remote diagnosticexamination. If the action control trigger element 104 is pressed formore than two seconds along with the power control trigger element 103,then the UART 2005 of the microcontroller 2004 sends 1851 a commandthrough a diagnostic data management signal to the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 to delete the diagnostic examination data. Themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 receives the diagnostic datamanagement signals from the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100, for example, via RS-232 ports of the local user device2505 that deploys the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 andperforms data management comprising, for example, recording,transferring, or deletion of the diagnostic examination data from themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprising theultrasound device 141 based on the received diagnostic data managementsignals.

FIGS. 19A-19C exemplarily illustrate a flowchart comprising the stepsperformed by the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25, for facilitating medical imaging and remotediagnostic examinations. A user, for example, a medical assistant canactivate the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100comprising, for example, the image capture device 106 to be used as ageneral medical examination device, an otoscope device 119 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, or a dermatoscope device 131 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 8, or comprising the image capture device 106 withthe laser pointer 132 and the stethoscope device 134 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, or comprising the image capture device 106with the laser pointer 132 and the ultrasound device 141 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, by one click on the graphical diagnosticexamination interface (GDEI) 2507 provided by the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. A user firstpowers on 1901 a local user device 2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.25, for example, a computer, a tablet computing device, a laptop, anotebook, etc., and downloads the medical diagnostic examination system2506 on the local user device 2505. On startup of the local user device2505, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 is loaded. If theuser does not want to access the medical diagnostic examination system2506, the user can click 1902 on a “Quit” button provided on the GDEI2507 of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506.

The user then connects 1903 the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 to the local user device 2505 via the connector interface123 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The localuser device 2505 recognizes a universal serial bus (USB) serialcommunication port, for example, via low level drivers of the local userdevice 2505 and selects a communication (COM) port number forestablishing serial communication between the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 on the local user device 2505 and themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The connectorinterface 123 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100comprises two connector elements 123 a and 123 b, for example, two USBports. In an embodiment, one of the USB ports of the connector interface123 is used for serial port communication between the local user device2505 and the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 forproviding operational system support and automatically defining a COMport for communication between the local user device 2505 and themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100.

In this embodiment, the other USB port connects the microcontroller 2004of the diagnosis control unit 101, through an internal connector hubinterface 2002 of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 20, to the image capture device 106 and/or a medical diagnosticdevice, for example, the otoscope device 119 exemplarily illustrated inFIGS. 5A-5L, or an ophthalmoscope device (not shown), or the stethoscopedevice 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, or the dermatoscopedevice 131 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, or the ultrasound device141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, or an endoscope device(not shown), etc. The microcontroller 2004 identifies which one or twoof the image capture device 106 and the medical diagnostic device areconnected. For example, the image capture device 106 can be connectedwithout the stethoscope device 134 or the ultrasound device 141, or inanother example, the image capture device 106 can be connected with thestethoscope device 134 or the ultrasound device 141. The connectorinterface 123 recognizes the connection of the image capture device 106,the stethoscope device 134, and the ultrasound device 141. In anembodiment, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 comprises,for example, three different application programming interfaces (APIs)for the image capture device 106, the stethoscope device 134, and theultrasound device 141.

The user selects 1904 a dedicated service internet protocol (IP) portaddress of the data management server 2510 for diagnostic datacommunication between the medical diagnostic examination system 2506,the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, and the datamanagement server 2510. The user can transfer the diagnostic image dataand the diagnostic examination data to the dedicated server, forexample, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)compliant data management server 2510 for ensuring the security ofdiagnostic data communication. The medical diagnostic examination system2506 checks 1905 whether a “transfer” command is received from themicrocontroller 2004 of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100. If the medical diagnostic examination system 2506receives the “transfer” command, the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 transfers 1906 the created screenshots and audio filesreceived from the image capture device 106 and/or the medical diagnosticdevice to the dedicated server via the communication network 2509exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25.

The user loads 1907 the graphical diagnostic examination interface(GDEI) 2507 provided by the medical diagnostic examination system 2506exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, enters patient informationcomprising, for example, a first name, a last name, a date of birth, amedical case number, etc., via the GDEI 2507, and selects a “submit”button 2507 a provided on the GDEI 2507. The patient information is usedby the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 to create data filessuch as .BMP files of a bitmap (BMP) image file format or .WAV files ofa waveform (WAV) audio file format for storing diagnostic examinationdata. The data files comprise, for example, patient information such asthe first name and the last name, the date of birth, etc., and atimestamp. The timestamp comprises, for example, date in a format suchas a MMDDYY+M+S format that comprises date, minutes, and seconds. In anembodiment, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 creates atimestamp for each data file based on an operational system presetcalendar date and time of the local user device 2505.

The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 detects a communicationport of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The userselects one or more of the three devices, for example, the image capturedevice 106, the stethoscope device 134, and/or the ultrasound device 141via the graphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 thathe/she wishes to activate 1908 in the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100. The microcontroller 2004 of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 sends diagnostic data managementsignals via the connector interface 123 of the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 to RS-232 ports of the local user device 2505for indicating different functions to be performed by the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 for management of the diagnosticimage data and the diagnostic examination data received from themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 on the local user device 2505 reads1909 diagnostic data management signals configured as serialcommunication port commands received from the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100. The medical diagnostic examination system2506 detects the serial communication port of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 and displays icons for the medicaldiagnostic devices, for example, the otoscope device 119 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, an ophthalmoscope device (not shown), thestethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, thedermatoscope device 131 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, theultrasound device 141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, anendoscope device (not shown), etc., connected to the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 on the GDEI 2507.

If the user selects 1910 an image capture device icon on the graphicaldiagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507, then the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 further displays multiple icons, forexample, an otoscope device icon 1911, a general examination device icon1912, or a dermatoscope device icon 1913 on the GDEI 2507 for selectinga medical diagnostic device to perform diagnostic examination. Themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 creates 1924 a directory forstoring the diagnostic image data received from the image capture device106, and the general medical examination device, or the otoscope device119, or the dermatoscope device 131. The medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 creates screenshots as .BMP files for the diagnostic imagedata and stores the created .BMP files in the directory. Consider anexample where the user selects the otoscope device icon on the GDEI 2507for activating use of the otoscope device 119 in the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100. If the user presses the actioncontrol trigger element 104 on the diagnosis control unit 101 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, then themicrocontroller 2004 sends a “capture” command to the local user device2505. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 checks 1925 whetherthe medical diagnostic examination system 2506 has received a “capture”command from the microcontroller 2004 of the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100. If the medical diagnostic examination system2506 has received the “capture” command, the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 receives and processes the “capture” command,creates 1926 a screenshot of the diagnostic image data displayed on theGDEI 2507, and saves the screenshot as a .BMP file. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 then names 1927 the .BMP file andadds 1928 a timestamp to the .BMP file. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 then stores 1929 the .BMP file in the directorycreated for the image capture device 106, for example, in a secure harddrive, a HIPAA compliant secure flash memory, or the data managementserver 2510.

If the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 connected tothe local user device 2505 that deploys the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 comprises the image capture device 106 and thestethoscope device 134, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506displays a stethoscope device icon on the graphical diagnosticexamination interface (GDEI) 2507 to the user. When the user selects1914 the stethoscope device icon, the local user device 2505 recognizesthe image capture device 106 and the stethoscope device 134 connectedvia the connector interface 123 comprising, for example, universalserial bus (USB) ports. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506reads 1915 heart or lung commands received from the user via the GDEI2507. The user selects a heart filter 1916 or a lung filter 1917 on theGDEI 2507 if the user wishes to receive diagnostic acoustic data fromthe heart or the lungs of a patient respectively. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 creates 1930 a directory for storing diagnosticacoustic data received from the stethoscope device 134. Themicrocontroller 2004 of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 sends a diagnostic data management signal configured as an“audio” command by RS-232 ports to the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 on the local user device 2505 to indicate the next functionto be performed on the diagnostic acoustic data. If the user selects theaction control trigger element 104 for recording the diagnostic acousticdata, the microcontroller 2004 transmits the “audio” command through adiagnostic data management signal to the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 on the local user device 2505 to record the receiveddiagnostic acoustic data, for example, for 10 seconds and create, forexample, a .WAV file. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506checks 1931 whether the “audio” command is received from themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. If the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 receives the “audio” command, themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 creates 1932 the .WAV fileand activates audio recording for 10 seconds. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 names 1933 the created .WAV file and adds 1934 atimestamp to the created .WAV file. The medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 stores 1935 the created .WAV file in a directory created fordiagnostic acoustic data received from heart or lungs.

If the user wants to receive diagnostic examination data comprising, forexample, ultrasound image data from the ultrasound device 141, the userconnects the image capture device 106 and the ultrasound device 141 tothe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The user selects1918 an ultrasound device icon on the graphical diagnostic examinationinterface (GDEI) 2507. The local user device 2505 recognizes and detectscommunication ports of the image capture device 106 and the ultrasounddevice 141. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 launches anultrasound application programming interface (API) to allow the user toview the ultrasound image data from the ultrasound device 141 on theGDEI 2507. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 creates 1936 adirectory for storing the ultrasound image data received from theultrasound device 141. The microcontroller 2004 of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 sends diagnostic data managementsignals to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 on the localuser device 2505 via serial communication ports, indicating nextfunctions to be performed on the ultrasound image data. If the userpresses both the “+” output modification trigger element and the “−”output modification trigger element of the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100, then the microcontroller 2004 sends an“ultrasound” command to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506.The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 checks 1937 whether an“ultrasound” command is received from the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100. The two output modification trigger elementsfunction as ultrasound zoom controllers. If the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 receives the “ultrasound” command from themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 activates 1938 image zoom control. Ifthe user presses the “+” output modification trigger element, thecommunication port of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506receives a command “1” 1939 from the microcontroller 2004 for increasing1940 zoom of the image displayed on the GDEI 2507. If the user pressesthe “−” output modification trigger element, the communication port ofthe medical diagnostic examination system 2506 receives a command “0”1942 from the microcontroller 2004 for decreasing 1943 zoom of the imagedisplayed on the GDEI 2507. If the medical diagnostic examination system2506 receives no command from the microcontroller 2004 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, then the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 does not control 1941 zoom of theultrasound image data from the ultrasound device 141. If the userpresses the action control trigger element 104, then the microcontroller2004 sends a “capture” command to the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 creates ascreenshot of the image displayed on the GDEI 2507, names thescreenshot, adds a timestamp, and stores the created image file.

If the user selects 1919 a “delete” icon on the graphical diagnosticexamination interface (GDEI) 2507, the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 prompts 1920 the user to confirm the delete command via theGDEI 2507. If the user indicates that he/she does not want to delete theultrasound image data, then the medical diagnostic examination system2506 closes 1921 a “delete” window on the GDEI 2507. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 checks 1922 whether the “delete”command is received from the microcontroller 2004 of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100. If the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 receives the “delete” command, then the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 deletes 1923 the created and storedscreenshots and audio files.

FIG. 20 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the diagnosis controlunit 101 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1A-14M, showing the image capturedevice 106 connected to the diagnosis control unit 101. FIG. 20exemplarily illustrates a configuration of the printed circuit board(PCB) 120 to be incorporated in the diagnosis control unit 101. The PCB120 of the diagnosis control unit 101 is connected to a universal serialbus (USB) 3.0 compatible camera module 124 as exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 20. The optical lens 107 for the camera module 124 comprises amanual adjustable zoom functionality along with an image focusingfunctionality. The camera module 124 interconnects with a supplementaryconnector interface, for example, a micro B USB 3.0 connector plug 2001.In an embodiment, the micro B USB 3.0 connector plug 2001 is configured,for example, as two removable adapters configured to allow themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 to function as theimage capture device 106 along with the stethoscope device 134exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, or with the ultrasound device141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H. The micro B USB 3.0connector plug 2001 is accommodated in the PCB 120 of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The micro B USB 3.0 connector plug 2001 plugs indirectly to the camera module 124.

The diagnosis control unit 101 further comprises a universal serial bus(USB) 3.0 connector hub interface 2002 configured to allow simultaneousoperation of the image capture device 106 with a medical diagnosticdevice, for example, the stethoscope device 134 or the ultrasound device141. For example, the connector hub interface 2002 can allow asimultaneous operation of the image capture device 106 and thestethoscope device 134 or a simultaneous operation of the image capturedevice 106 and the ultrasound device 141. When two devices, for example,the image capture device 106 and the stethoscope device 134 or the imagecapture device 106 and the ultrasound device 141 connect through one USBport on a local user device 2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, theoperating system of the local user device 2505, for example, Windows®XP, 7, 8/8.1, etc., of Microsoft corporation, the Mac operating system(OS) of Apple Inc., the Linux® operating system, the Android operatingsystem of Google Inc., etc., recognizes the image capture device 106 andthe connected medical diagnostic device, for example, 134, 141, etc., astwo separate devices via device drivers installed in the local userdevice 2505. When a medical diagnostic device such as the ultrasounddevice 141 or the stethoscope device 134 is not connected to themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, the local user device2505 recognizes only the image capture device 106. The communicationsignals, for example, the USB 3.0 communication signals between theimage capture device 106 and the connector hub interface 2002 comprise,for example, D−_a, D+_a, SSRX−_a, SSRX+_a, SSTX−_a, SSTX+_a, GND, etc.The connector hub interface 2002 transmits acknowledge signals to themicrocontroller 2004 to indicate connection of the image capture device106 and/or a medical diagnostic device, for example, 134, 141, etc., tothe diagnosis control unit 101.

In an embodiment, the microcontroller 2004 is configured to verifywhether the connector hub interface 2002 is active and can processtransmission of the diagnostic image data to the local user device 2505.The microcontroller 2004 is configured to receive actuation signals fromone or more of multiple trigger elements 102 positioned on a predefinedsection, for example, the upper section 101 b of the diagnosis controlunit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1A. The microcontroller 2004processes the received actuation signals to generate action controlsignals for indicating one or more actions to be performed by the imagecapture device 106, and/or multiple medical diagnostic devices forexample, the otoscope device 119 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L,an ophthalmoscope device (not shown), the stethoscope device 134exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, the dermatoscope device 131exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, the ultrasound device 141 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, an endoscope device (not shown), etc.,interchangeably connected to the diagnosis control unit 101 via theattachment unit 115. The actions to be performed by the image capturedevice 106 and the medical diagnostic devices comprise, for example, oneor more of power control of the image capture device 106 and the medicaldiagnostic devices, power control of one or more of multiple lightsources, for example, the light emitting diodes 125, the laser pointer132, etc., capture of the diagnostic image data by the image capturedevice 106, recording of the diagnostic examination data by the medicaldiagnostic devices, recording of the diagnostic image data and thediagnostic examination data for a predefined time period, managingstorage of the diagnostic image data and the diagnostic examinationdata, managing deletion of the stored diagnostic image data and thestored diagnostic examination data, light generation and brightnesscontrol by the light sources, image scaling by the image capture device106, audio volume control, creation of audio files in multiple audiofile formats, etc., and any combination thereof. The medical diagnosticdevices record diagnostic examination data comprising, for example,audio data, video data, image data, etc., and any combination thereof.The camera module 124 processes the captured diagnostic image data andthe recorded diagnostic examination data. The microcontroller 2004facilitates transmission of the processed diagnostic image data and thediagnostic examination data of multiple formats from the medicaldiagnostic devices to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506accessible on the local user device 2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.25, via the universal serial bus (USB) 3.0 connector interface 123.

The connector interface 123 comprises at least two connector elements123 a and 123 b configured, for example, as connector plugs exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 5H. The communication signals between the cameramodule 124 and a top connector element 123 a of the connector interface123 comprise, for example, D−_MAIN, D+_MAIN, SSRX−_MAIN, SSRX+_MAIN,SSTX−_MAIN, SSTX+_MAIN, GND, GND_DRAIN, etc. The top connector element123 a of the connector interface 123 connects to and communicates withthe camera module 124 and the bottom connector element 123 b connects toand communicates with the microcontroller 2004 of the diagnosis controlunit 101. In an embodiment, the connector interface 123 configured as aUSB 3.0 dual connector plug can be used as a USB 2.0 dual connectorplug. If a USB 2.0 dual connector plug is used as the connectorinterface 123 for facilitating communication of the camera module 124with the microcontroller 2004 of the diagnosis control unit 101, thenonly bottom connector element signals, for example, D− and D+ areutilized for the communication.

The connector interface 123 communicates with a data converter, forexample, a universal serial bus (USB) to RS-232 converter 2003. The USBto RS-232 converter 2003 converts, for example, D− and D+ signals fromthe connector interface 123 to transmitter and receiver signals, forexample, Tx and Rx to allow the camera module 124 to communicate with auniversal asynchronous receiver or transmitter (UART) 2005 of themicrocontroller 2004. In an embodiment, the microcontroller 2004 is, forexample, an 8 bit microcontroller. In an embodiment, the microcontroller2004 comprises, for example, the UART 2005, a serial peripheralinterface (SPI), an inter-integrated circuit (I²C), and three ports withten external interrupt support pins, for example, INT0 to INT9.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, the power control trigger element103 and the action control trigger element 104 are internally connectedto the microcontroller 2004. In an embodiment, the power control triggerelement 103 is configured to generate one or more outputs on occurrenceof a single push or press on the power control trigger element 103. Inan embodiment, the power control trigger element 103 is configured as anexternal momentary push button with double connects. In this embodiment,one push of the power control trigger element 103 creates dual events.The diagnosis control unit 101 further comprises a delay block 2006configured as an integrated chip configured to function as a debouncer.The delay block 2006 is configured to provide pulses with a delay to themicrocontroller 2004. For example, when the action control triggerelement 104 is pressed and held for two seconds, the delay block 2006provides an interrupt to the microcontroller 2004, thereby allowing themicrocontroller 2004 to transmit diagnostic data management signals tothe medical diagnostic examination system 2506, for example, via RS-232communication ports of the local user device 2505 that deploys themedical diagnostic examination system 2506. In another example, when theaction control trigger element 104 is pressed, the delay block 2006provides an interrupt to the microcontroller 2004 to facilitate transferof the recorded diagnostic examination data to the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506. In another example, when both the actioncontrol trigger element 104 and the power control trigger element 103are pressed and held simultaneously, the delay block 2006 provides aninterrupt to the microcontroller 2004 to transmit diagnostic datamanagement signals to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506,for example, via the RS-232 communication ports for indicating deletionof diagnostic examination data.

The diagnosis control unit 101 further comprises a buzzer 2007, forexample, a small sized magnetic buzzer. The buzzer 2007 determines andprovides better use experience of the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 to a user. The buzzer 2007 enables transfer ofthe created diagnostic examination data files, for example, .WAV filesof a waveform (WAV) audio file format or .PNG files of a portablenetwork graphics (PNG) format to a directory created by the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506, when a user presses and holds theaction control trigger element 104. The buzzer 2007 also enablesdeletion of the created diagnostic examination data files by the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506, when the user presses and holds theaction control trigger element 104 and the power control trigger element103. In an embodiment, the microcontroller 2004 is in communication witha 1024 kilobyte (kb) serial complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor(CMOS) electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM)2008.

A VBUS connector pin 2015 of the top connector element 123 a of theconnector interface 123 provides a voltage supply of, for example, about5 volts (V) to the connector hub interface 2002. The VBUS connector pin2015 of the top connector element 123 a of the connector interface 123connects to a power distribution switch 2009, for example, a universalserial bus (USB) 3.0 power distribution switch. The VBUS connector pin2015 of the top connector element 123 a provides a voltage supply of,for example, about 5 V from the connector interface 123 to the powerdistribution switch 2009. The power distribution switch 2009 provides apower output comprising, for example, a voltage of about 5 V and acurrent of about 900 milliamperes (mA) to the camera module 124 via themicro B USB 3.0 connector plug 2001 to allow activation or deactivationof the camera module 124. The activation or deactivation of the powersupply to the camera module 124 can be controlled by the power controltrigger element 103. The power control trigger element 103 transmitscontrol signals to a power controller 2010 configured as an on/offcontroller and accommodated on the PCB 120. The power controller 2010 isconfigured to control activation and deactivation of the camera module124 based on the control signals received from the power control triggerelement 103. Each time the power control trigger element 103 is pushedor pressed, the power controller 2010 sends high or low power enablingcontrol signals to the power distribution switch 2009 for providingpower supply to the camera module 124 and the PCB 128 of the lightsources, for example, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 5F, FIGS. 6A-6B, FIG. 11G, FIG. 13H, and FIG. 14G,to control powering of the LEDs 125 on the attachment unit 115.

In an embodiment, the action control trigger element 104 comprises, forexample, a green LED (not shown). In an embodiment, the action controltrigger element 104 allows a user to trigger the capture of diagnosticimage data via the image capture device 106, for example, when a generalmedical examination device, the otoscope device 119 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, or the dermatoscope device 131 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 8, is connected to the diagnosis control unit 101via the attachment unit 115. For example, when only the image capturedevice 106 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, is connected to thediagnosis control unit 101, the action control trigger element 104allows a user to trigger the capture of one image per click of theaction control trigger element 104. In an embodiment, the action controltrigger element 104 allows a user to trigger generation of audio filescomprising diagnostic acoustic data recorded from anatomical examinationareas such as heart or lungs, for example, in a .WAV file format, whenthe stethoscope device 134 along with the image capture device 106 isconnected to the diagnosis control unit 101 via the attachment unit 115.For example, the action control trigger element 104 allows the user totrigger the capture of one image per click via the image capture device106 and trigger recording and generation of a .WAV file for diagnosticacoustic data recorded from the lungs via the stethoscope device 134. Inan embodiment, when the image capture device 106 and the ultrasounddevice 141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, are connected tothe diagnosis control unit 101 via the attachment unit 115, the actioncontrol trigger element 104 allows a user to trigger the capture of animage per click via the image capture device 106 and trigger the captureof ultrasound images via the ultrasound device 141. In an embodiment,the action control trigger element 104 allows transfer of the recordeddiagnostic examination data to the data management server 2510 via thecommunication network 2509 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. In anembodiment, the action control trigger element 104 allows deletion ofthe recorded diagnostic examination data by simultaneously pressing thepower control trigger element 103 along with the action control triggerelement 104.

The diagnosis control unit 101 further comprises one or more monostablemultivibrators 2011. The microcontroller 2004 transmits enabling anddisabling signals to the monostable multivibrators 2011 for activationand deactivation of the monostable multivibrators 2011. The monostablemultivibrators 2011 control the brightness of light emitted from thelight emitting diodes (LEDs) 125. The monostable multivibrators 2011 areconfigured to create manual pulse width modulation (PWM). The monostablemultivibrators 2011 create output pulses based on inputs received fromthe microcontroller 2004 and generate output pulses that are transmittedto a constant current LED driver 2101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.21. The output pulses received from the microcontroller 2004 are used asinputs to the constant current LED driver 2101 that defines aretriggering time of pulse for changing brightness levels of lightemitted from the LEDs 125.

The diagnosis control unit 101 further comprises an AND gate 2012configured to generate a correct logic status input pulse to theconstant current light emitting diode (LED) driver 2101 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 21. The AND gate 2012 generates and provides aninput signal to an ILED pin of the constant current LED driver 2101. Theconstant current LED driver 2101 is, for example a TPS61061 driver withdigital brightness control. The ILED pin of the constant current LEDdriver 2101 provides a digital interface to allow digital brightnesscontrol; that is, input at the ILED pin controls the brightness. Bycontrolling the voltage input to the constant current LED driver 2101,the brightness level of the LEDs 125 can be controlled. For example, theILED pin is programmed to receive a voltage input in a flat band voltage(VFB) of about 15.6 millivolts (mV) to about 500 mV.

The output modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B, can be used to adjust brightness levels oflight generated from the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125, adjust imagescaling, perform volume control, etc. In an embodiment, the outputmodification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b are configured to controlbrightness of the LEDs 125, when the image capture device 106 configuredas a general medical examination device, the otoscope device 119exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, or the dermatoscope device 131exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 8, is connected to the diagnosis controlunit 101. The output modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b areconfigured to modify the output of the medical diagnostic devices, forexample, the otoscope device 119, an ophthalmoscope device (not shown),the stethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, thedermatoscope device 131, the ultrasound device 141 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H, an endoscope device (not shown), etc. Forexample, the output modification trigger elements (not shown) can beused to control ultrasound image zooming in the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 comprising the ultrasound device 141. Inanother example, the output modification trigger elements (not shown)can be configured as stethoscope volume controllers in the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprising the stethoscope device134. In an embodiment, the output modification trigger elements areconfigured to control audio output of the stethoscope device 134 andbrightness of the LEDs 125, when the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 comprises the image capture device 106 and the stethoscopedevice 134. For example, the “−” output modification trigger elementdecreases volume of the audio output from the stethoscope device 134 andthe “+” output modification trigger element increases volume of theaudio output from the stethoscope device 134. The two outputmodification trigger elements can be simultaneously pressed and held toswitch from volume control to brightness control or vice versa. Onpressing the two output modification trigger elements simultaneously,the volume control interface with the push button interface 2013 isenabled and the monostable multivibrators 2011 are disabled or viceversa.

The microcontroller 2004 activates the volume control interface with thepush button interface 2013 by transmitting an enable signal to thevolume control interface with the push button interface 2013. Themicrocontroller 2004 receives signals from a digital signal processor2204 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22, of the stethoscope device 134that indicate that the stethoscope device 134 is connected. When boththe “+” and “−” output modification trigger elements are pressed andheld, the two output modification trigger elements are configured asvolume controllers. The volume control interface with the push buttoninterface 2013 operates by receiving high or low signals from themicrocontroller 2004 based on actuation signals received from the twooutput modification trigger elements 105 a and 105 b.

The microcontroller 2004 transmits signals to the volume controlinterface with the push button interface 2013 for volume control of thestethoscope device 134. The microcontroller 2004 transmits anothersignal to the volume control interface with the push button interface2013 for enabling or disabling the volume control interface with thepush button interface 2013. The volume control interface with the pushbutton interface 2013 transmits a volume control status signal to thestethoscope device 134 for decreasing or increasing the volume ofdiagnostic acoustic data received by the digital signal processor 2204of the stethoscope device 134. The volume control status signal providesa status of audio filtering output received by the microcontroller 2004from the stethoscope device 134.

In an embodiment, the output modification trigger elements control imagescaling of diagnostic examination data recorded by ultrasound probes 142of the ultrasound device 141, when the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 comprises the image capture device 106 and theultrasound device 141. For example, the “−” output modification triggerelement decreases zoom and the “+” output modification trigger elementincreases zoom. By pressing and holding the output modification triggerelements simultaneously, brightness control is switched to ultrasoundimage scaling or vice versa.

The printed circuit board (PCB) 120 of the diagnosis control unit 101further accommodates a connector pad circuitry 2014 comprising connectorpad elements 2014 a to 2014 n. The connector pad element 2014 atransmits a power control signal of, for example, about 5 V and 500 mAfrom the bottom connector element 123 b of the connector interface 123to the image capture device 106, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125,the stethoscope device 134, or the ultrasound device 141 connected tothe diagnosis control unit 101. The connector pad element 2014 bprovides a ground connection to the image capture device 106, the LEDs125, the stethoscope device 134, or the ultrasound device 141 connectedto the diagnosis control unit 101. The AND gate 2012 provides the ILEDinput signal to the constant current LED driver 2101 via the connectorpad element 2014 c. The microcontroller 2004 receives a high acknowledgesignal via the connector pad element 2014 d of the diagnosis controlunit 101 when the image capture device 106 is connected to the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The microcontroller 2004 transmits a power enablingsignal to the image capture device 106 and the LEDs 125 via theconnector pad element 2014 e.

The microcontroller 2004 receives a high acknowledge signal via theconnector pad element 2014 f, when the stethoscope device 134 isconnected to the diagnosis control unit 101 via the attachment unit 115.The microcontroller 2004 transmits a volume control signal to thedigital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134 via theconnector pad element 2014 g. The microcontroller 2004 receives an audiofiltering output status from the digital signal processor 2204 of thestethoscope device 134 via the connector pad element 2014 h. Theconnector pad elements 2014 i and 2014 j are used to transmit universalserial bus (USB) D− and D+ signals for the digital signal processor 2204of the stethoscope 134. The microcontroller 2004 receives, for example,a universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 communication signals via the connectorpad elements 2014 i and 2014 j to allow communication of the stethoscopedevice 134 with the connector hub interface 2002.

The microcontroller 2004 transmits a control signal to the digitalsignal processor 2404 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 24, of theultrasound device 141 for activating zoom functionality via theconnector pad element 2014 k. The microcontroller 2004 receives, forexample, universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 D− and D+ communication signalsvia the connector pad elements 20141 and 2014 m to allow communicationof the ultrasound device 141 with the connector hub interface 2002. Themicrocontroller 2004 receives a high acknowledge signal via theconnector pad element 2014 n of the diagnosis control unit 101, when theultrasound device 141 is connected to the diagnosis control unit 101 viathe attachment unit 115.

FIG. 21 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the printed circuitboard 128 of the light sources, for example, the light emitting diodes(LEDs) 125 configured to be operably connected to the attachment unit115 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5F, FIG. 11G, FIG. 13H, and FIG.14G, for illuminating and indicating anatomical examination areas duringmedical imaging and remote diagnostic examinations. The spring contactconnectors 118 positioned on the rear end 115 b of the attachment unit115 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B, facilitate an electricalcommunication of the LEDs 125 that are operably connected, for example,to the front section 115 c or the section 115 e proximal to the rear end115 b of the attachment unit 115 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B,FIGS. 10A-10B, and FIGS. 12A-12B, with the microcontroller 2004 of thediagnosis control unit 101. The spring contact connectors 118 connect tothe connector pads 113 housed in the connector slot 112 configured atthe front end 101 e of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 1B. The communication of action control signals, thediagnostic image data, and the diagnostic examination data isfacilitated by the connections between the connector pads 113 of theconnector slot 112 and the spring contact connectors 118 of theattachment unit 115.

The printed circuit board (PCB) 128 comprises a constant current lightemitting diode (LED) driver 2101 configured to drive the light sources,for example, five LEDs 125 arranged in the form of a LED ring. The PCB128 further comprises a spring contact connector circuitry 2102 withspring contact connector elements 2102 a, 2102 b, 2102 c, 2102 d, and2102 e that connect to the spring contact connectors 118 at the rear end115 b of the attachment unit 115. The spring contact connector element2102 a receives a power control signal of, for example, about 5 V and500 mA from the bottom connector element 123 b of the connectorinterface 123 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 5H, FIG. 11C, FIG. 13C,FIG. 14I, and FIG. 20, for activating the LEDs 125. The spring contactconnector element 2102 b provides a ground connection to the LEDs 125.The spring contact connector element 2102 c receives an ILED inputsignal from the AND gate 2012 of the diagnosis control unit 101exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, for brightness control of the LEDs125. The spring contact connector element 2102 d transmits, for example,a high acknowledge signal to the microcontroller 2004 indicatingconnection of the image capture device 106 and the LEDs 125 to thediagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 11A, FIG.11F, FIG. 13A, and FIGS. 13F-13G. The spring contact connector element2102 e receives power enabling signals from the microcontroller 2004 tocontrol activation and deactivation of the image capture device 106 andthe LEDs 125.

FIG. 22 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the printed circuitboard (PCB) 136 of the stethoscope device 134 and the light sources, forexample, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 operably connected to theattachment unit 115 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B and FIGS.11A-11G. In an embodiment, the stethoscope device 134 comprises an arrayof three microphones 2201, for example, piezoelectric contactmicrophones for receiving high quality diagnostic acoustic data fromhuman organs such as heart, lungs, bowel, etc. Each microphone 2201transmits signals to a microphone amplifier 2202 comprising a band passfilter 2203. The microphone amplifier 2202 increases analog audio signalamplitude. The band pass filter 2203 is used to eliminate static andenvironment noise, for example, of a frequency range of about 60 hertz(Hz) to about 2 kilohertz (kHz).

The stethoscope device 134 comprises, for example, two main operationalmodes comprising a bell mode and a diaphragm mode. The bell mode and thediaphragm mode operate in two different frequencies ranges. In the bellmode, the stethoscope device 134 receives diagnostic acoustic data fromthe lungs. The bell mode operates in a predetermined frequency range forenabling reception of the diagnostic acoustic data from the lungs. Inthe bell mode, the stethoscope device 134 implements a filter operatingin a frequency range of, for example, about 100 Hz to about 1000 Hz forlung sounds. In the diaphragm mode, the stethoscope device 134 receivesdiagnostic acoustic data from the heart or the bowel. The diaphragm modeoperates in a predetermined frequency range for enabling reception ofthe diagnostic acoustic data from the heart or the bowel. In thediaphragm mode, the stethoscope device 134 implements a filter operatingin a frequency range of, for example, about 60 Hz to about 650 Hz forheart sounds. The digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscopedevice 134 processes action control signals received from themicrocontroller 2004 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, for actuatingthe stethoscope device 134 to perform one or more actions indicated bythe action control signals. When the frequency range is changed on thetouchscreen 135 of the stethoscope device 134, the signal received fromthe digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134 changesa state from high to low or vice versa. If the stethoscope device 134 isnot connected to the diagnosis control unit 101 via the attachment unit115, then the microcontroller 2004 reads the signal as a floating pinsignal.

FIG. 22 also exemplarily illustrates spring contact connector circuitry2210 of the stethoscope device 134 comprising spring contact connectorelements 2210 a, 2210 b, 2210 c, 2210 d, 2210 e, 2210 f, 2210 g, 2210 h,2210 i, and 2210 j. The signal received from the digital signalprocessor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134 via the spring contactconnector element 2210 a is a power signal received from the bottomconnector element 123 b, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) plugof the connector interface 123. The power signal received, for example,from a VBUS connector pin of the bottom connector element 123 bprovides, for example, a voltage of about 5 volts (V) and current ofabout 500 milliamperes (mA). The spring contact connector element 2210 bprovides a ground connection to the stethoscope device 134. The springcontact connector elements 2210 c, 2210 d, and 2210 e of the stethoscopedevice 134 are connected to the spring contact connector elements 2102c, 2102 d, and 2102 e of the spring contact connector circuitry 2102respectively, on the printed circuit board 128 of the light emittingdiodes (LEDs) 125, to allow operable communication between the LEDs 125and the stethoscope device 134 connected to the attachment unit 115 ofthe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G.

The digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134transmits a high acknowledge signal to the microcontroller 2004 of thediagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, via thespring contact connector element 2210 f for indicating that thestethoscope device 134 is connected to the diagnosis control unit 101.The spring contact connector element 2210 g transmits a volume controlstatus signal to the digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscopedevice 134, received from the microcontroller 2004 for increasing ordecreasing volume of the diagnostic acoustic data received by thestethoscope device 134. The digital signal processor 2204 transmits astatus of audio filtering via the spring contact connector element 2210h to the microcontroller 2004 of the diagnosis control unit 101. Thestethoscope device 134 is configured with a built-in light emittingdiode (LED) controller, for example, the constant current LED driver2101. The signals received from the digital signal processor 2204 of thestethoscope device 134 via the spring contact connector elements 2210 iand 2210 j are, for example, universal serial bus (USB) 2.0communication signals such as D−_b and D+_b communication signals thatare transmitted to the connector hub interface 2002 of the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20.

The digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134comprises, for example, a built-in codec, a universal serial bus (USB)interface 2205, digital filters, and an output volume controller. Thebuilt-in codec converts analog input from the microphone amplifiers 2202comprising the band pass filters 2203 to digital data. The USB interface2205 communicates with a driver support interface of the local userdevice 2505 comprising, for example, a Windows® operating system, theMac OS of Apple Inc., a Linux® operating system, an Android operatingsystem of Google Inc., etc. The local user device 2505 recognizes thestethoscope device 134 connected to the attachment unit 115, forexample, as a USB microphone. The digital signal processor 2204configures the digital filters. The output volume controller facilitatescontrol of the volume of the output generated by the stethoscope device134 based on inputs received from the volume control interface with thepush button interface 2013 of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 20. In an embodiment, the digital signal processor2204 operates at low power values. For example, the stethoscope device134, the LEDs 125, and the image capture device 106 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, operate at about 5 V received from theconnector interface 123 comprising, for example, the USB ports thatprovide a USB 2.0 current of about 500 mA or a USB 3.0 current of about900 mA. In an embodiment, the camera module 124 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 11G, does not operate at low power.

The real time clock 2206 of the stethoscope device 134 controlsrecording of diagnostic acoustic data by the stethoscope device 134. Thereal time clock 2206 defines a time period, for example, number ofseconds for recording an audio file comprising the diagnostic acousticdata. The stethoscope device 134 further comprises a flash memory 2207.The flash memory 2207 is used for booting the digital signal processor2204 of the stethoscope device 134. The spring contact connectorcircuitry 2210 of the attachment unit 115 for the stethoscope device 134connects to the connector pad circuitry 2014 of the diagnosis controlunit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, for allowing electroniccommunication between the stethoscope device 134 connected to the frontend 115 a of the attachment unit 115 and the diagnosis control unit 101.That is, the spring contact connector elements 2210 f, 2210 g, 2210 h,2210 i, and 2210 j of the spring contact connector circuitry 2210 of theattachment unit 115 contact the connector pad elements 2014 f, 2014 g,2014 h, 2014 i, and 2014 j of the connector pad circuitry 2014 of thediagnosis control unit 101 respectively, exemplarily illustrated in FIG.20.

The stethoscope device 134 further comprises a voltage regulator 2208,for example, a linear voltage regulator that provides a voltage supplyof, for example, about 0.5 V to about 3.3 V, and a dual voltage outputof, for example, about 1.2 V. In an example, a voltage supply of about3.3 V from the voltage regulator 2208 can be used for powering internalparts and components of the digital signal processor 2204 of thestethoscope device 134. In an embodiment, the voltage regulator 2208provides, for example, about 1.2 V for powering the digital signalprocessor 2204. The digital signal processor 2204 further communicateswith a level shifter 2209 that communicates with the touchscreen 135 andcontrols red, green, and blue (RGB) color levels, for example, at about1.8 V. The touchscreen 135 of the stethoscope device 134 is configuredas a liquid crystal display (LCD) display screen. The touchscreen 135functions as a user interface, for example, for displaying audiofiltering information, a sleep mode of the stethoscope device 134, aconnection status of the stethoscope device 134 with the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100, time period of recording diagnostic acoustic data, a volume level,etc.

FIGS. 23A-23D exemplarily illustrate a flowchart comprising the stepsperformed by the digital signal processor (DSP) 2204 of the stethoscopedevice 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B, FIGS. 11A-11G, andFIG. 22, for recording and transmitting audio data to the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 on a local user device 2505exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. A user, for example, a medicalassistant connects 2301 the attachment unit 115 with the stethoscopedevice 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B, to the diagnosiscontrol unit 101 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G. The digital signalprocessor 2204 and the associated electronics, for example, 2202, 2206,2207, 2209, etc., exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22, receives 2302power of, for example, 5V, 500 mA, from the connector pad element 2014 athat contacts the spring contact connector element 2102 a, and theground connector pad element 2014 b contacts the spring contactconnector element 2102 b exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20 and FIG. 22.The flash memory 2207 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22, activates 2303firmware for the digital signal processor 2204 by using a serialperipheral interface (SPI) or an inter-integrated circuit (I²C), Thelocal user device 2505, for example, a personal computer, a laptop, atablet computing device, etc., by a universal serial bus (USB)communication with the digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscopedevice 134, uploads 2304 an audio driver and recognizes 2304 theexternal devices, for example, the microphones 2201 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 22, as an audio input device. A device driver on thelocal user device 2505 supports multiple operating systems, for example,Windows® XP, 7, 8/8.1, etc., of Microsoft corporation, the Androidoperating system of Google Inc., the iOS operating system of Apple Inc.,the Linux® operating system, etc.

The flash memory 2207, via the digital signal processor 2204, uploads2305 an identifier (ID) for the local user device 2505 by a name, forexample, “stethoscope”. The digital signal processor 2204 provides 2306an event, for example, a high digital signal to the microcontroller 2004exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, by using the spring contactconnector elements 2210 f, 2210 g, 2210 h, 2210 i, and 2210 j connectedto the connector pad elements 2014 f, 2014 g, 2014 h, 2014 i, and 2014 jrespectively, exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20 and FIG. 22. Thedigital signal processor 2204 also receives 2311 audio signals from theband pass filter 2203 to an internal codec, for example, the SigmaDSP®Stereo ADAU1761 of Analog Devices, Inc. The internal codec convertsanalog data from the audio signals to digital data.

The digital signal processor 2204 also reads 2309 the status of a volumecontroller via the spring contact connector element 2210 g exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 22. The volume control ranges, for example, fromabout −12 db to about +35.25 db. Each time the user activates the outputmodification trigger element, the volume increases or decreases 2310,for example, by about 0.7 db. The digital signal processor 2204 alsoprovides 2307 a command to the touchscreen 135 to display “stethoscopeis ready”. The digital signal processor 2204 reads 2308 the status ofthe filter selected via the touchscreen 135. The digital signalprocessor 2204 checks 2312 the status of the filter mode. If the filtermode is not active, then the digital signal processor 2204 transmits2313 the digitally unfiltered audio data from the bottom connectorelement 123 b of the connector interface 123 of the diagnosis controlunit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 11C, to a universal serial bus(USB) interface (not shown) of the local user device 2505. If the filtermode is active, then the digital signal processor 2204 allows 2314 auser to select the filter mode, for example, from three options, namely,“bell”, “diaphragm”, and “wide band modem” on the touchscreen 135.

The digital signal processor 2204 checks 2315 whether the optionselected for the filter mode is “bell”. If the selected option is“bell”, then the digital signal processor 2204 activates 2316 a customintegrated algorithm developed, for example, using Matlab® of MathWorks,Inc., and converted into “C” code as a part of the firmware of thedigital signal processor 2204. Based on the custom integrated algorithm,the digital signal processor 2204 reads 2316 the “bell” command, turnson the low frequency mode 60 Hz-650 Hz digital filter, and transmits2321 the selected filter data as audio data from the connector interface123 of the diagnosis control unit 101 to the universal serial bus (USB)interface of the local user device 2505. If the selected option is not“bell”, the digital signal processor 2204 checks 2317 whether the optionselected for the filter mode is “diaphragm”. If the selected option is“diaphragm”, then the digital signal processor 2204 activates 2318 thecustom integrated algorithm, reads the “diaphragm” command, turns on thehigh frequency mode 120 Hz-1000 Hz digital filter, and transmits 2321the selected filter data as audio data from the connector interface 123of the diagnosis control unit 101 to the USB interface of the local userdevice 2505. If the selected option is not “diaphragm”, then the digitalsignal processor 2204 checks 2319 whether the option selected for thefilter mode is “wide band modem”. If the selection option is “wide bandmodem”, then the digital signal processor 2204 activates 2320 the customintegrated algorithm, reads the “wide band modem” command, turns on 2320the wide band frequency mode 60 Hz-2000 Hz digital filter, and transmits2321 the selected filter data as audio data from the connector interface123 of the diagnosis control unit 101 to the USB interface of the localuser device 2505. The digital signal processor 2204 then sends 2322 thestatus of the selected filter to the microcontroller 2004 of thediagnosis control unit 101 via the spring contact connector element 2210h that contacts with the connector pad element 2014 h exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 20 and FIG. 22. If the selection option is not “wideband modem”, then the digital signal processor 2204 repeats the processby checking 2315 whether the selected option is “bell”.

FIG. 24 exemplarily illustrates a block diagram of the printed circuitboard (PCB) 143 of the ultrasound device 141 and the light sources, forexample, the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 operably connected to theattachment unit 115 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H. Theultrasound device 141 comprises the ultrasonic transducer sensors 142 aon the interchangeable ultrasound probe 142 that can be removed andreplaced with a different ultrasound probe based on patient diagnosticrequirements. The ultrasound probe 142 with the ultrasonic transducersensors 142 a is connected to the PCB 143 of the ultrasound device 141exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 13H. In an embodiment, the ultrasoundprobe 142 is designed with a piezoelectric transducer array. Thepiezoelectric transducer array is configured to communicate, forexample, about 8 to about 16 channels of analog signals from theultrasonic transducer sensors 142 a on the ultrasound probe 142. Theultrasound probe 142 is selected based on a focal zone of, for example,about 0.5 cm to about 20 cm, a depth range of about 0.5 cm to about 25cm, and a pulse frequency of about 3.5 MHz to about 24 MHz. Theultrasound probe 142 is used for diagnostically examining anatomicalexamination areas comprising, for example, liver, kidney, aorta, heart,regional nerve blocks, pregnancy, urology, vascular areas, venousablation, musculoskeletal areas, etc. A doctor can select whichultrasound probe 142 he/she wishes to connect to the ultrasound device141 at the front end 115 a of the attachment unit 115 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B, for medical diagnostics. For example, aDoppler ultrasound probe 142 can be connected to the ultrasound device141 at the front end 115 a of the attachment unit 115 to allow a doctorto view dynamic images.

The printed circuit board (PCB) 143 of the ultrasound device 141comprises an analog front end (AFE) electronic system 2401 configuredfor ultrasound applications. The AFE electronic system 2401 comprises alow noise amplifier (LNA) 2402 configured to receive transducer signalsfrom the ultrasound probe 142. In an embodiment, the low noise amplifier2402 receives a dynamic range of channels of transducer signalscomprising, for example, about 8 channels to about 16 channels from theultrasound probe 142. The digital processing devices 2403 of theultrasound device 141 comprise a digital signal processor 2404 and afield programmable gate array (FPGA) 2405. In an embodiment, the digitalprocessing devices 2403 are configured to implement beam forming. Thedigital processing devices 2403 send and receive signals to and from theAFE electronic system 2401 that functions, for example, as a beamformertransmitter and/or receiver. In an embodiment, the communicationprotocol implemented between the digital processing devices 2403 and theAFE electronic system 2401 is low voltage differential signaling (LVDS)via a serial peripheral interface (SPI). The digital processing devices2403 perform multiple functions comprising, for example, capture ofdiagnostic examination data such as ultrasound image data, sampling ofthe diagnostic examination data, digital filtering, image processing,compression of the diagnostic examination data if the speed of datatransmission is below universal serial bus (USB) 3.0 speed, demodulationand summation of channel signals, etc. The digital processing devices2403 transmit, for example, USB 3.0 signals 2406 to the connector hubinterface 2002 of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 20, via the spring contact connectors 118 of the attachment unit115 with the ultrasound device 141, thereby allowing the ultrasounddevice 141 to communicate with a local user device 2505 connected to themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 via the connectorinterface 123 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20.

The printed circuit board (PCB) 143 of the ultrasound device 141comprises a spring contact connector circuitry 2407 comprising springcontact connector elements 2407 a, 2407 b, 2407 c, 2407 d, 2407 e, 2407f, 2407 g, 2407 h, and 2407 i. The spring contact connector element 2407a receives a power control signal of, for example, about 5 V and 500 mAfrom the bottom connector element 123 b of the connector interface 123exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 13C, for activating the ultrasounddevice 141. The spring contact connector element 2407 b provides aground connection to the ultrasound device 141. The spring contactconnector elements 2407 c, 2407 d, and 2407 e are connected to thespring contact connector elements 2102 c, 2102 d, and 2102 e of thespring contact connector circuitry 2102 respectively, as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 24, to allow operable communication between thelight emitting diodes (LEDs) 125 and the ultrasound device 141 connectedto the attachment unit 115 of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H.

When the attachment unit 115 with the ultrasound device 141 is connectedto the diagnosis control unit 101, the spring contact connector elements2407 f, 2407 g, 2407 h, and 2407 i of the attachment unit 115 connect tothe connector pad circuitry 2014 of the diagnosis control unit 101exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, for allowing electroniccommunication between the ultrasound device 141 connected to the frontend 115 a of the attachment unit 115 and the diagnosis control unit 101.That is, the spring contact connector elements 2407 f, 2407 g, 2407 h,and 2407 i contact the connector pad elements 2014 k, 20141, 2014 m, and2014 n of the connector pad circuitry 2014 of the diagnosis control unit101 respectively, exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20. On activation ofthe trigger elements 103 and 104, the spring contact connector element2407 f transmits a communication signal or an action control signalreceived from the microcontroller 2004 of the diagnosis control unit 101exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, to the digital processing devices2403 of the ultrasound device 141 for activating zoom functionality. Thespring contact connector elements 2407 g and 2407 h transmit universalserial bus (USB) 3.0 signals 2406, for example, D−_c and D+_ccommunication signals to the connector hub interface 2002 of thediagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20, which inturn transmits the USB 3.0 signals 2406 to the connector interface 123exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20. The connector interface 123transmits the USB 3.0 signals 2406 received via the spring contactconnector elements 2407 g and 2407 h of the ultrasound device 141 to thelocal user device 2505 connected to the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 via the connector interface 123 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The digital signalprocessor 2404 transmits a high acknowledge signal to themicrocontroller 2004 of the diagnosis control unit 101 via the springcontact connector element 2407 i.

FIG. 25 exemplarily illustrates a system 2500 for facilitating medicalimaging and remote diagnostic examinations. The system 2500 disclosedherein comprises the medical diagnostic examination system 2506accessible on one or more user devices, for example, a local user device2505, a remote user device 2511, etc., and the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100. The local user device 2505 is, for example,an external computer operably connected to the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 using, for example, a universal serial bus(USB) 3.0 cable via the connector interface 123 connected to, forexample, a universal serial bus (USB) 3.0 connector hub interface 2002of the diagnosis control unit 101 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 20.The local user device 2505 or the remote user device 2511 is anelectronic device, for example, a personal computer, a tablet computingdevice, a mobile computer, a portable computing device, a laptop, atouch centric device, a workstation, a client device, a portableelectronic device, a network enabled computing device, an interactivenetwork enabled communication device, any other suitable computingequipment, and combinations of multiple pieces of computing equipment,etc.

The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 communicates withthe medical diagnostic examination system 2506 on the local user device2505 via the connector interface 123 of the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100. The medical diagnostic examination system2506 on the local user device 2505 of a user, for example, a medicalassistant communicates with the medical diagnostic examination system2506 accessible on the remote user device 2511 of a user, for example, adoctor via the communication network 2509. The communication network2509 is, for example, the internet, an intranet, a wired network, awireless network, a network that implements Wi-Fi® of Wi-Fi AllianceCorporation, an ultra-wideband communication network (UWB), acommunication network that implements ZigBee® of ZigBee AllianceCorporation, a general packet radio service (GPRS) network, a mobiletelecommunication network such as a global system for mobile (GSM)communications network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network,a third generation (3G) mobile communication network, a fourthgeneration (4G) mobile communication network, a long-term evolution(LTE) mobile communication network, etc., a local area network, a widearea network, an internet connection network, etc., or a network formedfrom any combination of these networks.

The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 comprises a medicaldiagnostic examination application 2508 configured as a softwareapplication for facilitating medical imaging and remote diagnosticexaminations. In an embodiment, the medical diagnostic examinationapplication 2508 is configured as downloadable software which isoperable with multiple operation systems comprising, for example,Windows® XP, 7, 8/8.1, etc., of Microsoft corporation, the Mac operatingsystem (OS) of Apple Inc., the Linux® operating system, the Androidoperating system of Google Inc., etc. The medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 is accessible to users, for example, through a broadspectrum of technologies and devices such as personal computers withaccess to the internet, tablet computing devices, etc. In an embodiment,the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 is implemented in a cloudcomputing environment. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 isa cloud computing based platform compliant with Health InsurancePortability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards and implemented asa service for facilitating medical imaging and remote diagnosticexaminations. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 isdeveloped using, for example, the Google App engine cloud infrastructureof Google Inc., Amazon Web Services® of Amazon Technologies, Inc., theAmazon elastic compute cloud EC2® web service of Amazon Technologies,Inc., the Google® Cloud platform of Google Inc., the Microsoft® Cloudplatform of Microsoft Corporation, etc., configured to comply with theHIPAA standards.

In an embodiment, the diagnostic image data and the diagnosticexamination data recorded by the image capture device 106 and themedical diagnostic device 2504, for example, the otoscope device 119exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5L, or an ophthalmoscope device (notshown), or the stethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.11A-11G, or the dermatoscope device 131 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.8, or the ultrasound device 141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.13A-13H, or an endoscope device (not shown), etc., are configured to beuploaded and stored on one or more servers comprising a dedicatedserver, for example, the data management server 2510 and a server in thecloud computing environment. In this embodiment, the servers are HealthInsurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant servers.In another embodiment, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506stores the processed diagnostic image data and the diagnosticexamination data in a local memory, for example, a universal serial bus(USB) flash memory, a solid state drive (SSD) memory, a hard disk drive(HDD) memory storage, etc., of the local user device 2505. In thisembodiment, the stored diagnostic image data is automatically ormanually uploaded to a HIPAA compliant dedicated server or a HIPAAcompliant server in the cloud computing environment. In anotherembodiment, the captured diagnostic image data is uploaded directly froma local memory of the image capture device 106 of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 to a HIPAA compliant dedicatedserver or a HIPAA compliant server in the cloud computing environment.In this embodiment, the local memory of the image capture device 106 is,for example, a HIPAA compliant 256 bit hardware based encrypted flashdrive.

The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprises thediagnosis control unit 101, the image capture device 106, and theattachment unit 115 as disclosed in the detailed description of FIGS.1A-14M. The diagnosis control unit 101 comprises the microcontroller2004 configured to execute computer program instructions defined bymodules, for example, 2501, 2502, 2503, etc., of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100. The modules of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 comprise a detection module 2501, adata communication module 2502, and an action management module 2503.The detection module 2501 detects an operable connection of the imagecapture device 106 and/or a medical diagnostic device 2504, for example,a stethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B andFIGS. 11A-11G, to the diagnosis control unit 101 via the attachment unit115 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The datacommunication module 2502 receives actuation signals from one or moretrigger elements 102 positioned on a predefined section, for example,the upper section 101 b of the diagnosis control unit 101. The actionmanagement module 2503 processes the received actuation signals togenerate action control signals to indicate one or more actions to beperformed by the image capture device 106 and/or the medical diagnosticdevice 2504.

In an embodiment, the action management module 2503 transmits thegenerated action control signals to the light emitting diodes (LEDs) 125and the laser pointer 132 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G andFIGS. 13A-13H, operably connected to the front section 115 c of theattachment unit 115, or a predetermined section along the length of theattachment unit 115 such as on a section 115 e proximal to the rear end115 b of the attachment unit 115, and/or on the upper section 101 b ofthe diagnosis control unit 101 for illuminating and indicating one ormore anatomical examination areas during medical imaging and remotediagnostic examinations. Consider an example where the light source,that is, the laser pointer 132 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 9, pointsto the anatomical examination areas comprising, for example, a front ora back of a chest of a patient. In this example, a doctor using theremote user device 2511 that is in communication with the local userdevice 2505 over the communication network 2509, can remotely diagnose,that is, advise and/or indicate points of interest on the chest thatduring in medical imaging and diagnostic examinations, for example,during ultrasound and stethoscope diagnostic examinations.

In an embodiment where the medical diagnostic device 2504 is thestethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H,comprising the digital signal processor 2204 exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 22, the action management module 2503 generates and transmitsaction control signals to the digital signal processor 2204 of thestethoscope device 134 for actuating the stethoscope device 134 toperform the actions indicated by the generated action control signals.In another embodiment where the medical diagnostic device 2504 is thestethoscope device 134 comprising one or more microphones 2201exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22, the action management module 2503generates and transmits action control signals to the digital signalprocessor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134 for actuating themicrophones 2201 to receive diagnostic acoustic data from one or moreanatomical examination areas. In an embodiment where the medicaldiagnostic device 2504 is the stethoscope device 134 comprising atouchscreen 135 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 10A and FIG. 11G, theaction management module 2503 generates and transmits action controlsignals to the digital signal processor 2204 of the stethoscope device134 for actuating the touchscreen 135 to display information associated,for example, with diagnostic acoustic data received by the stethoscopedevice 134, the connection status of the stethoscope device 134 to thediagnosis control unit 101, the activation status of the stethoscopedevice 134, etc. In an embodiment where the medical diagnostic device2504 is the stethoscope device 134 comprising the real time clock 2206exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 22, the action management module 2503generates and transmits action control signals to the digital signalprocessor 2204 of the stethoscope device 134 for actuating the real timeclock 2206 to control recording of the diagnostic acoustic data by thestethoscope device 134 for a predefined time period.

In an embodiment where the medical diagnostic device 2504 is theultrasound device 141 comprising an ultrasound digital signal processor2404 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 24, the action management module2503 generates and transmits action control signals to the ultrasounddigital signal processor 2404 of the ultrasound device 141 for actuatingthe ultrasound device 141 to perform the actions indicated by thegenerated action control signals. In an embodiment where the medicaldiagnostic device 2504 is the ultrasound device 141 comprising aninterchangeable ultrasound probe 142 operably connected to theattachment unit 115 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B and FIGS.13A-13H, the action management module 2503 generates and transmitsaction control signals to the ultrasound digital signal processor 2404of the ultrasound device 141 for actuating the interchangeableultrasound probe 142 of the ultrasound device 141 to detect and receiveultrasonic sounds from one or more anatomical examination areas fordiagnostic examinations.

The camera module 124 processes the diagnostic image data captured bythe image capture device 106. The processed diagnostic image data fromthe camera module 124 and the diagnostic examination data of multipleformats received from the medical diagnostic device 2504 via theattachment unit 115 are transmitted to the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 accessible on the local user device 2505 via theconnector interface 123 of the diagnosis control unit 101. In anembodiment, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 on the localuser device 2505 performs additional image processing on the diagnosticimage data and the diagnostic examination data using image processingsoftware. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 on the localuser device 2505 is in communication with the remote user device 2511over the communication network 2509 to facilitate remote viewing, remoteselection, and remote diagnostic examinations of multiple anatomicalexamination areas via the communication network 2509. In an embodiment,the data communication module 2502 transmits diagnostic data managementsignals to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 accessible onthe local user device 2505 via the connector interface 123 of thediagnosis control unit 101 for managing the transmitted diagnostic imagedata and the transmitted diagnostic examination data.

The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 comprises anon-transitory computer readable storage medium and at least oneprocessor communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computerreadable storage medium. As used herein, “non-transitory computerreadable storage medium” refers to all computer readable media, forexample, non-volatile media such as optical discs or magnetic disks,volatile media such as a register memory, a processor cache, etc., andtransmission media such as wires that constitute a system bus coupled tothe processor, except for a transitory, propagating signal. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium stores computer programinstructions defined by modules, for example, 2508 a, 2508 b, etc., ofthe medical diagnostic examination application 2508. The processor isconfigured to execute the defined computer program instructions.

The medical diagnostic examination application 2508 comprises a datacommunication module 2508 a and a diagnostic data management module 2508b. The data communication module 2508 a receives the connection statusof the image capture device 106 and/or the medical diagnostic device2504 from the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 via theconnector interface 123 of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100, based on the operable connection of the image capturedevice 106 and/or the medical diagnostic device 2504 to the diagnosiscontrol unit 101. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506provides a graphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507. TheGDEI 2507 is, for example, a display window, a webpage of a websitehosted by the medical diagnostic examination system 2506, an online webinterface, a web based downloadable application interface, a mobilebased downloadable application interface, etc. The GDEI 2507 renders andindicates anatomical examination areas to be diagnostically examinedusing the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 based on thereceived connection status of the image capture device 106 and/or themedical diagnostic device 2504 to the diagnosis control unit 101. Themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 dynamically displays one ormore of multiple interface elements on the anatomical examination areasrendered on the GDEI 2507.

The data communication module 2508 a receives user inputs through thedynamically displayed interface elements on the graphical diagnosticexamination interface (GDEI) 2507 for selectively activating the imagecapture device 106 and/or the medical diagnostic device 2504 forinitiating recording of the diagnostic image data associated with theanatomical examination areas by the image capture device 106 and thediagnostic examination data associated with the anatomical examinationareas by the medical diagnostic device 2504. The data communicationmodule 2508 a receives the processed diagnostic image data and thediagnostic examination data from the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 based on the received user inputs.

In an embodiment, the diagnostic data management module 2508 b managesthe diagnostic image data and the diagnostic examination data receivedfrom the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 via theconnector interface 123 for performing remote diagnostic examinationsbased on the diagnostic data management signals received from themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The management of thereceived diagnostic image data and the received diagnostic examinationdata comprises, for example, storage of the received diagnostic imagedata and the received diagnostic examination data in the data managementserver 2510, deletion of the received diagnostic image data and thereceived diagnostic examination data from the data management server2510, communication of the received diagnostic image data and thereceived diagnostic examination data with one or more remote userdevices 2511 via the communication network 2509, etc.

The data management server 2510 comprises one or more databases 2510 afor storing the diagnostic image data and the diagnostic examinationdata. The databases 2510 a can be any storage area or medium that can beused for storing data and files and that complies with the HealthInsurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards. Thedatabases 2510 a can be, for example, a structured query language (SQL)data store or a not only SQL (NoSQL) data store such as the Microsoft®SQL Server®, the Oracle® servers, the MySQL® database of MySQL ABCompany, the mongoDB® of MongoDB, Inc., the Neo4j graph database of NeoTechnology Corporation, the Cassandra database of the Apache SoftwareFoundation, the HBase™ database of the Apache Software Foundation, etc.In an embodiment, the databases 2510 a can also be locations on a filesystem. In another embodiment, the databases 2510 a can be remotelyaccessed by the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 via thecommunication network 2509. In another embodiment, the databases 2510 aare configured as cloud based databases implemented in a cloud computingenvironment, where computing resources are delivered as a service overthe communication network 2509.

The diagnostic data management module 2508 b dynamically converts thereceived diagnostic image data and the received diagnostic examinationdata to digital diagnostic image data and digital diagnostic examinationdata of multiple formats. The graphical diagnostic examination interface(GDEI) 2507 renders the digital diagnostic image data and the digitaldiagnostic examination data for facilitating medical imaging and remotediagnostic examinations. In an embodiment, the GDEI 2507 dynamicallydisplays an updated status of diagnostic examination data based onsubsequent diagnostic image data and subsequent diagnostic examinationdata received from the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100.

FIG. 26 exemplarily illustrates the hardware architecture 2600 of themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 25, employed for facilitating medical imaging and remote diagnosticexaminations. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 is acomputer system that is programmable using a high level computerprogramming language. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 maybe implemented using programmed and purposeful hardware. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 communicates with a remote userdevice 2511 via a communication network 2509, for example, a short rangenetwork or a long range network.

As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 26, the hardware architecture 2600 ofthe medical diagnostic examination system 2506 comprises a processor2601, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as a memoryunit 2602 for storing programs and data, an input/output (I/O)controller 2603, a network interface 2604, a data bus 2605, a displayunit 2606, input devices 2607, a fixed media drive 2608 such as a harddrive, a removable media drive 2609 for receiving removable media,output devices 2610, etc. The processor 2601 refers to any one or moremicroprocessors, central processing unit (CPU) devices, finite statemachines, computers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, logic,a logic device, an electronic circuit, an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), achip, etc., or any combination thereof, capable of executing computerprograms or a series of commands, instructions, or state transitions.The processor 2601 may also be implemented as a processor setcomprising, for example, a general purpose microprocessor and a math orgraphics co-processor. The processor 2601 is selected, for example, fromthe Intel® processors such as the Itanium® microprocessor or thePentium® processors, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD®) processors such asthe Athlon® processor, UltraSPARC® processors, microSPARC® processors,hp® processors, International Business Machines (IBM®) processors suchas the PowerPC® microprocessor, the MIPS® reduced instruction setcomputer (RISC) processor of MIPS Technologies, Inc., RISC basedcomputer processors of ARM Holdings, Motorola® processors, Qualcomm®processors, etc. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506disclosed herein is not limited to employing a processor 2601. Themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 may also employ a controlleror a microcontroller. The processor 2601 executes the modules, forexample, 2508 a, 2508 b, etc., of the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506.

The memory unit 2602 is used for storing programs, applications, anddata. For example, the data communication module 2508 a, the diagnosticdata management module 2508 b, etc., of the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 are stored in the memory unit 2602. The memoryunit 2602 is, for example, a random access memory (RAM) or another typeof dynamic storage device that stores information and instructions forexecution by the processor 2601. The memory unit 2602 also storestemporary variables and other intermediate information used duringexecution of the instructions by the processor 2601. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 further comprises a read only memory(ROM) or another type of static storage device that stores staticinformation and instructions for the processor 2601. The I/O controller2603 controls input actions and output actions performed by the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506.

The network interface 2604 enables connection of the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 to the communication network 2509. In anembodiment, the network interface 2604 is provided as an interface cardalso referred to as a line card. The network interface 2604 comprises,for example, one or more of an infrared (IR) interface, an interfaceimplementing Wi-Fi® of Wi-Fi Alliance Corporation, a universal serialbus (USB) interface, a FireWire® interface of Apple Inc., an Ethernetinterface, a frame relay interface, a cable interface, a digitalsubscriber line (DSL) interface, a token ring interface, a peripheralcontroller interconnect (PCI) interface, a local area network (LAN)interface, a wide area network (WAN) interface, interfaces using serialprotocols, interfaces using parallel protocols, and Ethernetcommunication interfaces, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) interfaces, ahigh speed serial interface (HSSI), a fiber distributed data interface(FDDI), interfaces based on transmission control protocol (TCP)/internetprotocol (IP), interfaces based on wireless communications technologysuch as satellite technology, radio frequency (RF) technology, nearfield communication, etc. The data bus 2605 permits communicationsbetween the modules, for example, 2508 a, 2508 b, etc., of the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506.

The display unit 2606, via the graphical diagnostic examinationinterface (GDEI) 2507, displays information, display interfaces, userinterface elements such as text fields, checkboxes, text boxes, windows,etc., for allowing a user, for example, a medical assistant to enterpatient information comprising, for example, personal information, aregistration number of the patient, etc., for allowing viewing ofmedical diagnosis reports that help in reviewing medical history of thepatient, etc. The display unit 2606 comprises, for example, a liquidcrystal display, a plasma display, an organic light emitting diode(OLED) based display, etc. The input devices 2607 are used for inputtingdata into the medical diagnostic examination system 2506. Users, forexample, medical assistants use the input devices 2607 to provide inputsto the medical diagnostic examination system 2506. For example, amedical assistant may enter a patient's personal information, a time ofmedically examining the patient, a name for an audio file comprisingdiagnostic acoustic data recorded by the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100, etc., using the input devices 2607. The inputdevices 2607 are, for example, a keyboard such as an alphanumerickeyboard, a joystick, a pointing device such as a computer mouse, atouch pad, a light pen, a digital pen, a microphone for providing voiceinput, a digital camera, a physical button, a touch sensitive displaydevice, a track ball, a pointing stick, any device capable of sensing atactile input, etc.

Computer applications and programs are used for operating the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506. The programs are loaded onto thefixed media drive 2608 and into the memory unit 2602 via the removablemedia drive 2609. In an embodiment, the computer applications andprograms may be loaded directly via the communication network 2509.Computer applications and programs are executed by double clicking arelated icon displayed on the display unit 2606 using one of the inputdevices 2607. The output devices 2610 output the results of operationsperformed by the medical diagnostic examination system 2506. Forexample, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 providescustomized medical reports to users using the output devices 2610. Themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 displays the generatedmedical reports using the output devices 2610.

The processor 2601 executes an operating system, for example, the Linux®operating system, the Unix® operating system, any version of theMicrosoft® Windows® operating system, the Mac OS of Apple Inc., the IBM®OS/2, VxWorks® of Wind River Systems, Inc., QNX Neutrino® developed byQNX Software Systems Ltd., the Palm OS®, the Solaris operating systemdeveloped by Sun Microsystems, Inc., the Android operating system, theWindows Phone® operating system of Microsoft Corporation, theBlackBerry® operating system of Blackberry Limited, the iOS operatingsystem of Apple Inc., the Symbian® operating system of SymbianFoundation Limited, etc. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506employs the operating system for performing multiple tasks. Theoperating system is responsible for management and coordination ofactivities and sharing of resources of the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506. The operating system further manages securityof the medical diagnostic examination system 2506, peripheral devicesconnected to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506, and networkconnections. The operating system employed on the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 recognizes, for example, inputs provided by theusers using one of the input devices 2607, the output display, files,and directories stored locally on the fixed media drive 2608. Theoperating system on the medical diagnostic examination system 2506executes different programs using the processor 2601. The processor 2601and the operating system together define a computer platform for whichapplication programs in high level programming languages are written.

The processor 2601 of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506retrieves instructions defined by the data communication module 2508 a,the diagnostic data management module 2508 b, etc., of the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 for performing respective functionsdisclosed in the detailed description of FIG. 25. The processor 2601retrieves instructions for executing the modules, for example, 2508 a,2508 b, etc., of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 from thememory unit 2602. A program counter determines the location of theinstructions in the memory unit 2602. The program counter stores anumber that identifies the current position in the program of each ofthe modules, for example, 2508 a, 2508 b, etc., of the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506. The instructions fetched by theprocessor 2601 from the memory unit 2602 after being processed aredecoded. The instructions are stored in an instruction register in theprocessor 2601. After processing and decoding, the processor 2601executes the instructions, thereby performing one or more processesdefined by those instructions.

At the time of execution, the instructions stored in the instructionregister are examined to determine the operations to be performed. Theprocessor 2601 then performs the specified operations. The operationscomprise arithmetic operations and logic operations. The operatingsystem performs multiple routines for performing a number of tasksrequired to assign the input devices 2607, the output devices 2610, andmemory for execution of the modules, for example, 2508 a, 2508 b, etc.,of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506. The tasks performedby the operating system comprise, for example, assigning memory to themodules, for example, 2508 a, 2508 b, etc., of the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506, and to data used by the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506, moving data between the memory unit 2602 anddisk units, and handling input/output operations. The operating systemperforms the tasks on request by the operations and after performing thetasks, the operating system transfers the execution control back to theprocessor 2601. The processor 2601 continues the execution to obtain oneor more outputs. The outputs of the execution of the modules, forexample, 2508 a, 2508 b, etc., of the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 are displayed to the user on the display unit 2606.

For purposes of illustration, the detailed description refers to themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 being run locally on a singlecomputer system; however the scope of the computer implemented methodand system 2500 disclosed herein is not limited to the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 being run locally on a singlecomputer system via the operating system and the processor 2601, but maybe extended to run remotely over the communication network 2509 byemploying a web browser and a remote server, a mobile phone, or otherelectronic devices. One or more portions of the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 may be distributed across one or more computersystems (not shown) coupled to the communication network 2509.

Computer program codes comprising computer executable instructions areembodied on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium. Theprocessor 2601 of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506retrieves these computer executable instructions and executes them. Whenthe computer executable instructions are executed by the processor 2601,the computer executable instructions cause the processor 2601 to performthe steps of the computer implemented method for facilitating medicalimaging and remote diagnostic examinations.

FIGS. 27A-27I exemplarily illustrate screenshots of the graphicaldiagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 provided by the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 for performing remote diagnosticexaminations. During a diagnostic examination, a medical assistant logsinto the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 on his/her localuser device 2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, via the GDEI 2507of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506. The medical assistantplugs in the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3, or FIGS. 5A-5E, or FIG. 8, or FIGS.11A-11H, or FIGS. 13A-13G, or FIG. 14A-14F, to the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 via the connector interface 123 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 using, for example, auniversal serial bus (USB) 3.0 cable. The multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 operates with the local user device 2505 thatimplements the application programming interface and drivers of themedical diagnostic examination system 2506. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 allows monitoring and recording of diagnosticexamination data comprising, for example, images, audio files, etc.

FIG. 27A exemplarily illustrates a home interface provided by thegraphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 of the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25.The home interface is displayed when the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 is loaded on the local user device 2505 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25. The home interface displays options forperforming diagnostic examinations as exemplarily illustrated in FIG.27A. The medical assistant can select one of the interface elements, forexample, 2701, 2702, 2703, 2704, 2705, 2706, or 2707 on the GDEI 2507for performing diagnostic examinations. For example, if the medicalassistant wants to use the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100 with the stethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS.11A-11G, then the medical assistant can select the interface element2702 depicting a stethoscope on the GDEI 2507 as exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 27A. If the medical assistant wants to measure blood pressure ora pulse of a patient, the medical assistant can select the interfaceelement 2701 depicted as a “heart” on the GDEI 2507. In another example,the medical assistant can also select the interface elements 2704 and2705 on the GDEI 2507 to initiate recording of an electrocardiogram andto perform an lung examination respectively. If the medical assistantselects the interface element 2701 depicted as a “heart” on the GDEI2507, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 displays anotherinterface on the GDEI 2507 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 27B.

FIG. 27B exemplarily illustrates an interface displaying a pulseoximeter icon 2701 a and a blood pressure icon 2701 b on the GDEI 2507.If the medical assistant selects or clicks on the pulse oximeter icon2701 a on the GDEI 2507, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, activates the applicationprogramming interface (API) for a pulse oximeter window and displays adate output from a pulse oximeter (not shown) as long as the pulseoximeter is clamped on to the patient's fingertip. If the medicalassistant selects or clicks on the blood pressure icon 2701 b on theGDEI 2507, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 activates theAPI for a blood pressure window and displays a date output from a bloodpressure meter (not shown) as long as the blood pressure meter is tiedaround the patient's wrist.

FIG. 27C exemplarily illustrates an anatomical examination areaselection window displayed on the graphical diagnostic examinationinterface (GDEI) 2507 when the medical assistant selects the stethoscopeinterface element 2702 on the home interface exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 27A. As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 27C, the GDEI 2507 displaysoptions of anatomical examination areas that can be examined using thestethoscope device 134, for example, a heart option 2708 and a lungoption 2709. The medical assistant can select the heart option 2708 onthe GDEI 2507 to use the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100 with the stethoscope device 134 for recording diagnostic acousticdata of the patient's heart and for performing a diagnostic heartexamination. The medical assistant can select the lung option 2709 onthe GDEI 2507 to use the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100 with the stethoscope device 134 for recording diagnostic acousticdata of the patient's lungs and for performing a diagnostic lungexamination. If the medical assistant selects the heart option 2708 onthe GDEI 2507 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 27C, the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25,displays another interface that indicates anatomical examination areascomprising, for example, an aortic area, a pulmonary area, Erb's point,a tricuspid area, a mitral area, etc., of the patient's heart on theGDEI 2507 as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 27D-27E.

FIGS. 27D-27E exemplarily illustrate the graphical diagnosticexamination interface (GDEI) 2507 displaying anatomical examinationareas of the patient's heart with interface elements 2710, for example,buttons labeled “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, and “5”. The interface elements 2710correspond to the anatomical examination areas and can be activated toselect the anatomical examination areas. As exemplarily illustrated inFIGS. 27D-27E, the interface element “1” corresponds to the aortic areaof the patient's heart, the interface element “2” corresponds to thepulmonary area of the patient's heart, the interface element “3”corresponds to Erb's point of the patient's heart, the interface element“4” corresponds to the tricuspid area of the patient's heart, and theinterface element “5” corresponds to the mitral area of the patient'sheart. To listen to the heart sounds, the medical assistant positionsthe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 with thestethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, on thepatient's chest, and then the medical assistant along with the doctorcan activate the interface elements 2710 on the GDEI 2507 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 27D, to listen to the heart sounds from the selectedanatomical examination areas of the patient's heart.

The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 25, in communication with the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 with the stethoscope device 134, recordsdiagnostic acoustic data from a selected anatomical examination area ofthe patient's heart, for example, for about 10 seconds. By clicking onany one of the interface elements 2710 on the GDEI 2507 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 27D, for example, via a touchscreen interface of thelocal user device 2505 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, for example,a computer comprising a Windows® 8 operating system, the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 automatically creates an audio file,for example, a .WAV file in a waveform (WAV) audio file format. Thecreated audio file contains the diagnostic acoustic data obtained fromthe heart sounds of the selected anatomical examination area of thepatient's heart and can be used for creating a medical history recordfor the patient. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 storesthe created audio file in the data management server 2510.

The status of recording of the diagnostic acoustic data automaticallychanges on the graphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507,when the medical assistant clicks on another one of the interfaceelements 2710. That is, the status of recording of the diagnosticacoustic data automatically changes based on each subsequent recording,for example, from “Ready” to “Recorded”. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 also displays the number of times the diagnosticacoustic data from the selected heart area is recorded, on the GDEI2507. For example, prior to recording, the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 displays the status of recording of thediagnostic acoustic data of all the anatomical examination areas as“Ready” on the GDEI 2507 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 27D.Consider an example where the medical assistant clicks on the interfaceelement “1” on the GDEI 2507. On receiving the click on the interfaceelement “1” via the GDEI 2507, the medical diagnostic examination system2506 receives and records diagnostic acoustic data of the aortic area,through the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. Afterrecording the diagnostic acoustic data of the aortic area for about 10seconds, the medical assistant clicks on the interface element “2” onthe GDEI 2507 to initiate recording of diagnostic acoustic data of thepulmonary area. On receiving the click on the interface element “2” viathe GDEI 2507, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506immediately changes the status of recording of the diagnostic acousticdata of the aortic area from “Ready” to “Aortic area recorded_1” on theGDEI 2507 and initiates recording of the diagnostic acoustic data of thepulmonary area. If the medical assistant clicks on the interface element“1” on the GDEI 2507 a second time, instead of clicking on the interfaceelement “2”, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 records thediagnostic acoustic data of the aortic area a second time and changesthe status from “Aortic Area Recorded_1” to “Aortic Area Recorded_2” onthe GDEI 2507 after completion of the recording, for indicating thesecond time dynamic recording of the diagnostic acoustic data from theaortic area. A doctor can request the medical assistant to select aparticular anatomical examination area displayed on the GDEI 2507, andthrough the image capture device 106 of the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100, the doctor is assured that the correctanatomical examination area is selected for remote diagnosticexamination. If the medical assistant clicks on any of the interfaceelements 2710 on the GDEI 2507, the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 starts receiving diagnostic acoustic data from themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100.

If the medical assistant selects the lung option 2709 on the graphicaldiagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 exemplarily illustrated inFIG. 27C, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 displaysanother interface that indicates anatomical examination areascomprising, for example, a right upper lobe, a right middle lobe, aright lower lobe, a left upper lobe, a left middle lobe, and a leftlower lobe on the GDEI 2507 as exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 27F-27G.

FIGS. 27F-27G exemplarily illustrate the graphical diagnosticexamination interface (GDEI) 2507 displaying anatomical examinationareas of the patient's lungs with interface elements 2711, for example,buttons labeled “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, and “6”. The interface elements2711 correspond to the anatomical examination areas and can be activatedto select the anatomical examination areas. As exemplarily illustratedin FIGS. 27F-27G, the interface element “1” corresponds to the rightupper lobe of the patient's lung, the interface element “2” correspondsto the right middle lobe of the patient's lung, the interface element“3” corresponds to the right lower lobe of the patient's lung, theinterface element “4” corresponds to the left upper lobe of thepatient's lung, the interface element “5” corresponds to the left middlelobe of the patient's lung, and the interface element “6” corresponds tothe left lower lobe of the patient's lung. To listen to the lung sounds,the medical assistant positions the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 with the stethoscope device 134 exemplarily illustrated inFIGS. 11A-11G, on the patient's chest, and then the medical assistantalong with the doctor can activate the interface elements 2711 on theGDEI 2507 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 27F, to remotely listen tolung sounds from the selected main lung areas of the patient's lungs.

The medical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 25, in communication with the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 with the stethoscope device 134, recordsdiagnostic acoustic data from a selected lung area of the patient'slungs, for example, for about 10 seconds. By clicking on any one of theinterface elements 2711 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 27D, the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 automatically creates an audio file,for example, a .WAV file. The created audio file contains the diagnosticacoustic data obtained from the lung sounds of the selected lung area ofthe patient's lungs and can be used for creating a medical historyrecord for the patient. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506stores the created audio file in the data management server 2510.

The status of recording of the diagnostic acoustic data automaticallychanges on the graphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507,when the medical assistant clicks on another one of the interfaceelements 2711. That is, the status of recording of the diagnosticacoustic data automatically changes based on each subsequent recording,for example, from “Ready” to “Recorded”. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 also displays the number of times the diagnosticacoustic data from the selected lung area is recorded, on the GDEI 2507.For example, prior to recording, the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 displays the status of recording of the diagnostic acousticdata of all the lung areas as “Ready” on the GDEI 2507 as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 27F. Consider an example where the medical assistantclicks on the interface element “1” on the GDEI 2507. On receiving theclick on the interface element “1” via the GDEI 2507, the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 receives and records diagnosticacoustic data of the right upper lobe, through the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100. After recording the diagnosticacoustic data of the aortic area for about 10 seconds, the medicalassistant clicks on the interface element “2” on the GDEI 2507 toinitiate recording of diagnostic acoustic data of the right middle lobe.On receiving the click on the interface element “2” via the GDEI 2507,the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 immediately changes thestatus of recording of the diagnostic acoustic data of the right upperlobe from “Ready” to “Right Upper Lobe Recorded_1” on the GDEI 2507 andinitiates recording of the diagnostic acoustic data of the right middlelobe. If the medical assistant clicks on the interface element “1” onthe GDEI 2507 a second time, instead of clicking on the interfaceelement “2”, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 records thediagnostic acoustic data of the right upper lobe a second time andchanges the status from “Right Upper Lobe Recorded_1” to “Right UpperLobe Recorded_2” on the GDEI 2507 after completion of the recording, forindicating the second time dynamic recording of the diagnostic acousticdata from the right upper lobe.

The medical assistant can add the stethoscope device 134 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 11A-11G, or the ultrasound device 141 exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 13A-13H to the attachment unit 115 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100, so that themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 becomes an imagecapture device 106 and a stethoscope device 134 or an image capturedevice 106 and an ultrasound device 141. The multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 allows a doctor to perform a complete virtualexamination to remotely ensure that correct anatomical examination areasare selected as indicated by the laser pointer 132 of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100. By using the laser pointer 132, adoctor can remotely view points on the patient's body that should beconsidered for diagnostic examination using the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100. For example, if the doctor wishes to verifyheart function, he/she should listen to five points on the heart asexemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 27D-27E. The length of the attachmentunit 115 is of a sufficient length to facilitate a proper view of thepatient's body via the image capture device 106 of the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100.

FIG. 27H exemplarily illustrates an interface displayed on the graphicaldiagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507, when the medical assistantclicks on the camera interface element 2703 on the GDEI 2507 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 27A. The medical assistant can select an interfaceelement, for example, 2712, 2713, or 2714 on the GDEI 2507, if he/shewants to perform a throat examination, an otoscopy, or a dermatoscopyrespectively.

FIG. 27I exemplarily illustrates a window displayed on the graphicaldiagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507, when the medical assistantclicks a delete interface element 2707 on the GDEI 2507 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 27A. The medical assistant can select the deleteinterface element 2707 if he/she wishes to delete diagnostic image dataand diagnostic examination data received from the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 via the connector interface 123 ofthe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100. The medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25,prompts the medical assistant to confirm the action of deleting thediagnostic image data and the diagnostic examination data by clicking ona “yes” button 2716 or a “no” button 2715 displayed in the window on theGDEI 2507.

FIG. 28 exemplarily illustrates determination of a length of theattachment unit 115 based on optical parameters of the image capturedevice 106. In an embodiment, the attachment unit 115 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 is of a predeterminedlength to ensure that a doctor can remotely view a patient's front chestarea or back chest area through the image capture device 106. The lengthof the attachment unit 115 comprising the stethoscope device 134 or theultrasound device 141 exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B, iscalculated to select a correct optical lens 107 for the image capturedevice 106 that matches focal length requirements for the attachmentunit 115. The image capture device 106 comprises, for example, a ⅓″complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (not shown).The size of the CMOS image sensor is, for example, 3.6 mm×4.8 mm. Thefocal length of the optical lens 107 is calculated based on the formulaedisclosed below:

$\frac{{Subject}\mspace{20mu} {Distance}\mspace{14mu} ({mm}) \times 4.8\mspace{14mu} {mm}}{{Subject}\mspace{14mu} {height}} = {{Focal}\mspace{14mu} {Length}}$$\frac{{Subject}\mspace{20mu} {Distance}\mspace{14mu} ({mm}) \times 3.6\mspace{14mu} {mm}}{{Subject}\mspace{14mu} {length}} = {{Focal}\mspace{14mu} {Length}}$

Based on experiments and testing conducted using the above formulae, thelength of the attachment unit 115 for designing an image capture device106 with a stethoscope device 134 or an image capture device 106 with anultrasound device 141 is about 250 mm. Therefore, the doctor's viewingarea of a patient's front chest or back chest is, for example, inaverage about 350 mm×300 mm. The focal length of the optical lens 107 ofthe image capture device 106 can be adjusted in a range of, for example,about 2 mm to about 8 mm.

$\frac{{Subject}\mspace{20mu} {Distance}\mspace{14mu} ({mm}) \times 4.8\mspace{14mu} {mm}}{{Focal}\mspace{14mu} {Length}\mspace{14mu} ({mm})} = {\left. {{Subject}\mspace{14mu} {height}\mspace{14mu} ({mm})}\rightarrow\frac{250 \times 4.8}{2} \right. = {600\mspace{14mu} {mm}}}$$\frac{{Subject}\mspace{20mu} {Distance}\mspace{14mu} ({mm}) \times 3.6\mspace{14mu} {mm}}{{Subject}\mspace{14mu} {length}} = {\left. {{Focal}\mspace{14mu} {Length}}\rightarrow\frac{250 \times 3.6}{2} \right. = {450\mspace{14mu} {mm}}}$

Based on the calculations disclosed above, a doctor can view a biggerexamination area, for example, a height of about 600 mm of a patient'schest or back area. For improving the accuracy of the calculations, athickness of the optical lens 107 and a Lensmaker's equation can beconsidered.

FIGS. 29A-29B exemplarily illustrate implementations of differentembodiments of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100with the stethoscope device 134, and the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506 accessible on a local user device 2505 or a remote userdevice 2511 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, for medical imaging andremote diagnostic examinations. Consider an example where a nurse usesthe multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 with thestethoscope device 134 connected to the attachment unit 115 to transmitdiagnostic acoustic data from a patient's heart area to a doctor via themedical diagnostic examination system 2506. The nurse logs in to themedical diagnostic examination system 2506 and invites the doctor to avideo session via the graphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI)2507 of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 as exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 29A.

The doctor logged in to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506via the GDEI 2507 on his/her remote user device 2511, for example, alaptop can view anatomical examination areas on the patient's bodyselected by the nurse via medical imaging facilitated by the imagecapture device 106 of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus100, in a doctor's view window 2507 b on the GDEI 2507. This view window2507 b is activated when the nurse selects a screen sharing mode onhis/her local user device 2505 or when the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 is recognized as a web camera on the doctor'sremote user device 2511. The nurse views the doctor in the doctor's viewwindow 2507 b on the GDEI 2507 that shows the doctor's image as recordedby the doctor's web camera in real time. The nurse and the doctor bothuse web cameras that work with the Health Insurance Portability andAccountability Act (HIPAA) compliant GDEI 2507. Thus, the doctor canview in real time the patient and the diagnostic reports of the patient.Similarly, the nurse views the doctor in real time on the nurse's localuser device 2505.

The first step is to allow the doctor to select points on the patient'schest. In an embodiment, the nurse can attach a light source, forexample, the laser pointer 132 to the upper section 101 b of thediagnosis control unit 101 of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 29B. In thisembodiment, the nurse can point the laser pointer 132 on the chest areaof the patient, and the doctor can direct the nurse to point wherehe/she requires. The stethoscope device 134 on the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 touches the selected point to allowthe doctor to receive real time diagnostic acoustic data, that is, heartsounds. If the doctor wants to listen to lung sounds, the nurse pointson the patient's back and the doctor selects a point on the patient'sback. The stethoscope device 134 on the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 touches the selected point to allow the doctorto receive real time diagnostic acoustic data, that is, lung sounds. Thedoctor can verify the anatomical examination areas selected by the nursefor retrieving diagnostic acoustic data comprising audio signals via thestethoscope device 134 of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100. For example, the medical diagnostic examination system2506 displays five interface elements 2710 corresponding to fiveanatomical examination areas of the patient's heart area on thegraphical diagnostic examination interface (GDEI) 2507 as exemplarilyillustrated in FIGS. 27D-27E and FIGS. 29A-29B. The nurse places thestethoscope device 134 on the patient's body based on those fiveanatomical examination areas. Based on diagnostic image data transmittedto the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 accessible on thedoctor's laptop via the communication network 2509, the doctor can viewand verify that the nurse is collecting diagnostic acoustic data fromcorrect anatomical examination areas. Hence, the method disclosed hereinallows a complete virtual diagnostic examination, for example, of heart,lungs, bowel, etc., by using the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100 with the stethoscope device 134, in communication with themedical diagnostic examination system 2506.

In an embodiment, if the doctor wishes to receive ultrasound data, thenurse can connect the attachment unit 115 with the ultrasound device 141exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 12A-12B, and the image capture device106 to the diagnosis control unit 101, and then the nurse can proceed inthe same way as is disclosed above. By using the graphical diagnosticexamination interface (GDEI) 2507 of the medical diagnostic examinationsystem 2506, a doctor can remotely view a patient's body and anatomicalexamination areas, for example, heart areas. The medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 provides the application programming interface(API) in a sharing mode to provide a real time camera output forenabling the doctor to perform remote diagnostic examinations andmonitor diagnostic examination data in real time.

FIG. 30 exemplarily illustrates an implementation of another embodimentof the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 with thediagnostic assistance element 145, and the medical diagnosticexamination system 2506 accessible on a local user device 2505 or aremote user device 2511 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, for medicalimaging and remote diagnostic examinations. A nurse inserts thediagnosis assistance element 145, for example, a tongue depressor intothe supplementary attachment slot 146 of the attachment unit 115 of themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 14B, and plugs in the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 to a local user device 2505 that deploys themedical diagnostic examination system 2506. The image capture device 106of the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 facilitatesmedical imaging during remote diagnostic examination. The nurse invitesa doctor to a video session via the graphical diagnostic examinationinterface (GDEI) 2507 of the medical diagnostic examination system 2506.The nurse inserts the diagnosis assistance element 145 into a patient'smouth to access the patient's throat. The image capture device 106captures images or records a video of the patient's throat and transmitsthe captured diagnostic image data to the camera module 124 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 14G. The camera module 124 processes the captureddiagnostic image data and transmits the processed diagnostic image datato the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 accessible on thelocal user device 2505 via the connector interface 123 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 14G. The medical diagnostic examination system 2506transmits the processed diagnostic image data to the doctor's remoteuser device 2511 via the communication network 2509 to allow the doctorto remotely perform a throat examination of the patient. The doctorlogged in to the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 via the GDEI2507 on his/her remote user device 2511 exemplarily illustrated in FIG.25, can view the patient's throat via medical imaging facilitated by theimage capture device 106 of the multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus 100, in a doctor's view window 2507 b on the GDEI 2507.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods, algorithms, andcomputer programs disclosed herein may be implemented on computerreadable media appropriately programmed for computing devices. As usedherein, “computer readable media” refers to non-transitory computerreadable media that participate in providing data, for example,instructions that may be read by a computer, a processor, or a similardevice. Non-transitory computer readable media comprise all computerreadable media, for example, non-volatile media, volatile media, andtransmission media, except for a transitory, propagating signal.Non-volatile media comprise, for example, optical discs or magneticdisks and other persistent memory volatile media including a dynamicrandom access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes a main memory.Volatile media comprise, for example, a register memory, a processorcache, a random access memory (RAM), etc. Transmission media comprise,for example, coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optic cables, modems,etc., including wires that constitute a system bus coupled to aprocessor, etc. Common forms of computer readable media comprise, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, magnetic tape, alaser disc, a Blu-ray Disc® of the Blu-ray Disc Association, anymagnetic medium, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a digitalversatile disc (DVD), any optical medium, a flash memory card, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, arandom access memory (RAM), a programmable read only memory (PROM), anerasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasableprogrammable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory, any other memorychip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

The computer programs that implement the methods and algorithmsdisclosed herein may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media,for example, the computer readable media in a number of manners. In anembodiment, hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in placeof, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation ofthe processes of various embodiments. Therefore, the embodiments are notlimited to any specific combination of hardware and software. Ingeneral, the computer program codes comprising computer executableinstructions may be implemented in any programming language. Examples ofprogramming languages that can be used comprise C, C++, Visual C++, C#,Java®, JavaScript®, Fortran, Ruby, Perl®, Python®, Visual Basic®,hypertext preprocessor (PHP), Microsoft® .NET etc. Otherobject-oriented, functional, scripting, and/or logical programminglanguages may also be used. The computer program codes or softwareprograms may be stored on or in one or more mediums as object code.Various aspects of the method and the system 2500 exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25, disclosed herein may be implemented in anon-programmed environment comprising documents created, for example, ina hypertext markup language (HTML), an extensible markup language (XML),or other format that render aspects of the graphical diagnosticexamination interface (GDEI) 2507 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25, orperform other functions, when viewed in a visual area or a window of abrowser program. Various aspects of the method and the system 2500disclosed herein may be implemented as programmed elements, ornon-programmed elements, or any suitable combination thereof. Thecomputer program product disclosed herein comprises one or more computerprogram codes for implementing the processes of various embodiments.

Where databases are described such as the databases 2510 a exemplarilyillustrated in FIG. 25, it will be understood by one of ordinary skillin the art that (i) alternative database structures to those describedmay be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structures besidesdatabases may be readily employed. Any illustrations or descriptions ofany sample databases disclosed herein are illustrative arrangements forstored representations of information. Any number of other arrangementsmay be employed besides those suggested by tables illustrated in thedrawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustrated entries of thedatabases represent exemplary information only; one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand that the number and content of the entries canbe different from those disclosed herein. Further, despite any depictionof the databases as tables, other formats including relationaldatabases, object-based models, and/or distributed databases may be usedto store and manipulate the data types disclosed herein. Likewise,object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implementvarious processes such as those disclosed herein. In addition, thedatabases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from adevice that accesses data in such a database. In embodiments where thereare multiple databases in the system 2500, the databases may beintegrated to communicate with each other for enabling simultaneousupdates of data linked across the databases, when there are any updatesto the data in one of the databases.

The method and the system 2500 disclosed herein can be configured towork in a network environment comprising one or more computers that arein communication with one or more devices via the communication network2509 exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 25. The computers may communicatewith the devices directly or indirectly, via a wired medium or awireless medium such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN) or the Ethernet, a token ring, or via any appropriatecommunications mediums or combination of communications mediums. Each ofthe devices comprises processors, examples of which are disclosed above,that are adapted to communicate with the computers. In an embodiment,each of the computers is equipped with a network communication device,for example, a network interface card, a modem, or other networkconnection device suitable for connecting to the communication network2509. Each of the computers and the devices executes an operatingsystem, examples of which are disclosed above. While the operatingsystem may differ depending on the type of computer, the operatingsystem provides the appropriate communications protocols to establishcommunication links with the communication network 2509. Any number andtype of machines may be in communication with the computers.

The method and the system 2500 disclosed herein are not limited to aparticular computer system platform, processor, operating system, ornetwork. One or more aspects of the method and the system 2500 disclosedherein may be distributed among one or more computer systems, forexample, servers configured to provide one or more services to one ormore client computers, or to perform a complete task in a distributedsystem. For example, one or more aspects of the method and the system2500 disclosed herein may be performed on a client-server system thatcomprises components distributed among one or more server systems thatperform multiple functions according to various embodiments. Thesecomponents comprise, for example, executable, intermediate, orinterpreted code, which communicate over a communication network 2509using a communication protocol. The method and the system 2500 disclosedherein are not limited to be executable on any particular system orgroup of systems, and is not limited to any particular distributedarchitecture, network, or communication protocol.

The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose ofexplanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the method,the medical diagnostic examination system 2506 exemplarily illustratedin FIG. 25, and the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100exemplarily illustrated in FIGS. 1A-14M, disclosed herein. While themethod, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506, and themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 have been describedwith reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words,which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration,rather than words of limitation. Further, although the method, themedical diagnostic examination system 2506, and the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 have been described herein withreference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, the method,the medical diagnostic examination system 2506, and the multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus 100 are not intended to be limited tothe particulars disclosed herein; rather, the method, the medicaldiagnostic examination system 2506, and the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus 100 extend to all functionally equivalentstructures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of theappended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of theteachings of this specification, may effect numerous modificationsthereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope andspirit of the method, the medical diagnostic examination system 2506,and the multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus 100 disclosedherein in their aspects.

We claim:
 1. A multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus comprising:a diagnosis control unit comprising a microcontroller configured toreceive actuation signals from one or more of a plurality of triggerelements positioned on a predefined section of said diagnosis controlunit, and process said received actuation signals to generate actioncontrol signals configured to indicate one or more actions to beperformed by one or more of an image capture device and a plurality ofmedical diagnostic devices interchangeably connected to said diagnosiscontrol unit via an attachment unit; said attachment unit detachablyconnected to and extending from a connector slot configured at a frontend of said diagnosis control unit, said attachment unit comprising areceptacle configured to accommodate said image capture device, saidattachment unit configured to operably connect one of said medicaldiagnostic devices to said diagnosis control unit; said image capturedevice removably connected to a camera module positioned at a frontsection of said diagnosis control unit and supported within saidreceptacle of said attachment unit, said image capture device configuredto capture diagnostic image data during medical imaging and diagnosticexaminations, said camera module configured to process said captureddiagnostic image data; and said microcontroller of said diagnosiscontrol unit further configured to facilitate transmission of saidprocessed diagnostic image data from said camera module and diagnosticexamination data of a plurality of formats from said one of said medicaldiagnostic devices to a medical diagnostic examination system accessibleon a local user device via a connector interface configured at a rearsection of said diagnosis control unit, wherein said connector interfaceis in communication with said camera module and said operably connectedone of said medical diagnostic devices via said attachment unit toreceive and transmit said processed diagnostic image data and saiddiagnostic examination data to said medical diagnostic examinationsystem, and wherein said medical diagnostic examination system on saidlocal user device is in communication with a remote user device over acommunication network to facilitate remote viewing, remote selection,and remote diagnostic examinations of a plurality of anatomicalexamination areas via said communication network.
 2. The multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidmicrocontroller of said diagnosis control unit is further configured totransmit diagnostic data management signals to said medical diagnosticexamination system accessible on said local user device via saidconnector interface of said diagnosis control unit for managing saidtransmitted diagnostic image data and said transmitted diagnosticexamination data.
 3. The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatusof claim 1, wherein said attachment unit is configured to have one of aplurality of different lengths, wherein said one of said differentlengths of said attachment unit is selected based on a function of afocal length of an optical lens of said image capture device tofacilitate said medical imaging.
 4. The multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuation signals aregenerated by one of a simultaneous activation and a subsequentactivation of said one or more of said trigger elements positioned onsaid predefined section of said diagnosis control unit.
 5. Themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidconnector interface of said diagnosis control unit is configured toallow electronic communication between the multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus and said medical diagnostic examination systemaccessible on said local user device for said medical imaging and saiddiagnostic examinations, wherein said connector interface comprises atleast two connector elements, wherein a first of said at least twoconnector elements is configured to allow communication of saidprocessed diagnostic image data from said camera module and saiddiagnostic examination data from said one of said medical diagnosticdevices to said medical diagnostic examination system, and wherein asecond of said at least two connector elements is configured to allow aserial data communication between said microcontroller of said diagnosiscontrol unit and said medical diagnostic examination system forcontrolling operations of one or more of said image capture device andsaid one of said medical diagnostic devices for said medical imaging andsaid diagnostic examinations.
 6. The multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus of claim 1, wherein said connector interface of said diagnosiscontrol unit is selected from the group consisting of a universal serialbus 3.0 connector interface, a Thunderbolt connector interface, andcombinations thereof.
 7. The multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus of claim 1, wherein said connector interface of said diagnosiscontrol unit is a universal serial bus 3.0 connector interfaceconfigured to allow uncompressed, high speed, and high quality serialdata communication between said diagnosis control unit and said medicaldiagnostic examination system.
 8. The multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more of aplurality of light sources operably connected to one or more of a frontsection of said attachment unit, a predefined section along a length ofsaid attachment unit, and an upper section of said diagnosis controlunit, and wherein said microcontroller of said diagnosis control unit isfurther configured to generate and transmit action control signals tosaid one or more of said light sources for illuminating and indicatingone or more of said anatomical examination areas during said medicalimaging and said diagnostic examinations, wherein said illuminated andindicated one or more of said anatomical examination areas are viewedand selected remotely on said remote user device via said communicationnetwork for said remote diagnostic examinations.
 9. The multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, further comprising springcontact connectors positioned on a rear section of said attachment unit,wherein said spring contact connectors are configured to allowelectrical communication of light sources operably connected to one of afront section of said attachment unit and a predefined section along alength of said attachment unit, and said one of said medical diagnosticdevices operably connected to said attachment unit, with saidmicrocontroller of said diagnosis control unit.
 10. The multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connector slotof said diagnosis control unit comprises connector pads configured toengage with spring contact connectors positioned on a rear section ofsaid attachment unit to allow electrical communication of one or moreof: one of a plurality of light sources operably connected to one of afront section of said attachment unit and a predefined section along alength of said attachment unit, and said one of said medical diagnosticdevices operably connected to said attachment unit, with saidmicrocontroller of said diagnosis control unit.
 11. The multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one of saidmedical diagnostic devices is a stethoscope device, and wherein saidmicrocontroller of said diagnosis control unit is further configured totransmit said generated action control signals to a digital signalprocessor of said stethoscope device for actuating said stethoscopedevice to perform said one or more actions indicated by said generatedaction control signals.
 12. The multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus of claim 1, wherein said one of said medical diagnosticdevices is a stethoscope device comprising one or more microphones, andwherein said microcontroller of said diagnosis control unit is furtherconfigured to transmit said generated action control signals to adigital signal processor of said stethoscope device for actuating saidone or more microphones to receive diagnostic acoustic data from one ormore of said anatomical examination areas.
 13. The multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one of saidmedical diagnostic devices is a stethoscope device comprising atouchscreen, and wherein said microcontroller of said diagnosis controlunit is further configured to transmit said generated action controlsignals to a digital signal processor of said stethoscope device foractuating said touchscreen to display information associated with one ormore of diagnostic acoustic data received by said stethoscope device, aconnection status of said stethoscope device to said diagnosis controlunit, and an activation status of said stethoscope device.
 14. Themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidone of said medical diagnostic devices is a stethoscope devicecomprising a real time clock, and wherein said microcontroller of saiddiagnosis control unit is further configured to transmit said generatedaction control signals to a digital signal processor of said stethoscopedevice for actuating said real time clock to control recording ofdiagnostic acoustic data by said stethoscope device for a predefinedtime period.
 15. The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said one of said medical diagnostic devices is anultrasound device, and wherein said microcontroller of said diagnosiscontrol unit is further configured to transmit said generated actioncontrol signals to an ultrasound processor of said ultrasound device foractuating said ultrasound device to perform said one or more actionsindicated by said generated action control signals.
 16. The multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one of saidmedical diagnostic devices is an ultrasound device comprising one of aplurality of interchangeable ultrasound probes operably connected tosaid attachment unit, and wherein said microcontroller of said diagnosiscontrol unit is further configured to transmit said generated actioncontrol signals to an ultrasound processor of said ultrasound device foractuating said one of said interchangeable ultrasound probes of saidultrasound device to detect and receive ultrasonic sounds from one ormore of said anatomical examination areas for said diagnosticexaminations.
 17. The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a supplementary attachment slot positionedon a lower section of said attachment unit, wherein said supplementaryattachment slot is configured to interchangeably accommodate a diagnosisassistance element for facilitating said diagnostic examinations. 18.The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus of claim 17, whereinsaid diagnosis assistance element is a tongue depressor of a predefinedlength.
 19. The multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus of claim1, wherein said one or more actions to be performed by said one or moreof said image capture device and said medical diagnostic devicescomprise one or more of power control of said image capture device andsaid medical diagnostic devices, power control of one or more of aplurality of light sources operably connected to one of a front sectionof said attachment unit, a predefined section along a length of saidattachment unit, and an upper section of said diagnosis control unit,said capture of said diagnostic image data by said image capture device,recording of said diagnostic examination data by said one of saidmedical diagnostic devices, recording of said diagnostic image data andsaid diagnostic examination data for a predefined time period, managingstorage of said diagnostic image data and said diagnostic examinationdata, managing deletion of said stored diagnostic image data and saidstored diagnostic examination data, light generation and brightnesscontrol by said one or more of said light sources, image scaling by saidimage capture device, audio volume control, creation of audio files in aplurality of audio file formats, and any combination thereof.
 20. Themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidmedical diagnostic devices comprise a stethoscope device, an ultrasounddevice, an otoscope device, an ophthalmoscope device, a dermatoscopedevice, an endoscope device, and any combination thereof.
 21. Themultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus of claim 1, wherein saiddiagnostic examination data comprises audio data, video data, imagedata, and any combination thereof.
 22. The multipurpose diagnosticexamination apparatus of claim 1, wherein said diagnostic image data andsaid diagnostic examination data from one of said image capture deviceand said local user device are configured to be uploaded to and storedon one or more servers comprising a dedicated server and a server in acloud computing environment, wherein said one or more servers are healthinsurance portability and accountability act compliant servers.
 23. Amethod for facilitating medical imaging and remote diagnosticexaminations, said method comprising: providing a multipurposediagnostic examination apparatus configured to communicate with amedical diagnostic examination system accessible on a local user devicevia a connector interface configured at a rear section of a diagnosiscontrol unit of said multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, saidmultipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus comprising: said diagnosiscontrol unit comprising a microcontroller in operable communication witha plurality of trigger elements positioned on a predefined section ofsaid diagnosis control unit and with said medical diagnostic examinationsystem via said connector interface; an attachment unit detachablyconnected to and extending from a connector slot configured at a frontend of said diagnosis control unit, said attachment unit comprising areceptacle configured to accommodate an image capture device, saidattachment unit configured to operably connect one of a plurality ofmedical diagnostic devices interchangeably to said diagnosis controlunit; and said image capture device removably connected to a cameramodule positioned at a front section of said diagnosis control unit andsupported within said receptacle of said attachment unit; detecting anoperable connection of one or more of said image capture device and saidone of said medical diagnostic devices to said diagnosis control unitvia said attachment unit by said microcontroller of said diagnosiscontrol unit; receiving actuation signals from one or more of saidtrigger elements by said microcontroller; processing said receivedactuation signals by said microcontroller to generate action controlsignals configured to indicate one or more actions to be performed bysaid one or more of said image capture device and said one of saidmedical diagnostic devices; processing diagnostic image data captured bysaid image capture device, by said camera module of said diagnosiscontrol unit; and facilitating transmission of said processed diagnosticimage data from said camera module and diagnostic examination data of aplurality of formats from said one of said medical diagnostic devices bysaid microcontroller of said diagnosis control unit to said medicaldiagnostic examination system accessible on said local user device viasaid connector interface of said diagnosis control unit, wherein saidconnector interface is in communication with said camera module and saidoperably connected one of said medical diagnostic devices via saidattachment unit to receive and transmit said processed diagnostic imagedata and said diagnostic examination data to said medical diagnosticexamination system, and wherein said medical diagnostic examinationsystem on said local user device is in communication with a remote userdevice over a communication network to facilitate remote viewing, remoteselection, and said remote diagnostic examinations of a plurality ofanatomical examination areas via said communication network.
 24. Themethod of claim 23, further comprising transmitting diagnostic datamanagement signals to said medical diagnostic examination systemaccessible on said local user device via said connector interface ofsaid diagnosis control unit by said microcontroller of said diagnosiscontrol unit for managing said transmitted diagnostic image data andsaid transmitted diagnostic examination data.
 25. The method of claim23, wherein said actuation signals are generated by one of asimultaneous activation and a subsequent activation of said one or moreof said trigger elements positioned on said predefined section of saiddiagnosis control unit.
 26. The method of claim 23, wherein saidconnector interface of said diagnosis control unit is selected from thegroup consisting of a universal serial bus 3.0 connector interface, aThunderbolt connector interface, and combinations thereof.
 27. Themethod of claim 23, wherein said connector interface of said diagnosiscontrol unit is a universal serial bus 3.0 connector interfaceconfigured to allow uncompressed, high speed, and high quality serialdata communication between said diagnosis control unit and said medicaldiagnostic examination system.
 28. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising generating and transmitting action control signals to one ormore of a plurality of light sources operably connected to one or moreof a front section of said attachment unit, a predefined section along alength of said attachment unit, and an upper section of said diagnosiscontrol unit by said microcontroller of said diagnosis control unit, forilluminating and indicating one or more of said anatomical examinationareas during said medical imaging and said remote diagnosticexaminations, wherein said illuminated and indicated one or more of saidanatomical examination areas are viewed and selected remotely on saidremote user device via said communication network for said remotediagnostic examinations.
 29. The method of claim 23, wherein said one ofsaid medical diagnostic devices is a stethoscope device, and whereinsaid microcontroller of said diagnosis control unit is configured totransmit said generated action control signals to a digital signalprocessor of said stethoscope device for actuating said stethoscopedevice to perform said one or more actions indicated by said generatedaction control signals.
 30. The method of claim 23, wherein said one ofsaid medical diagnostic devices is a stethoscope device comprising oneor more microphones, and wherein said microcontroller of said diagnosiscontrol unit is configured to transmit said generated action controlsignals to a digital signal processor of said stethoscope device foractuating said one or more microphones to receive diagnostic acousticdata from one or more of said anatomical examination areas.
 31. Themethod of claim 23, wherein said one of said medical diagnostic devicesis a stethoscope device comprising a touchscreen, and wherein saidmicrocontroller of said diagnosis control unit is configured to transmitsaid generated action control signals to a digital signal processor ofsaid stethoscope device for actuating said touchscreen to displayinformation associated with one or more of diagnostic acoustic datareceived by said stethoscope device, a connection status of saidstethoscope device to said diagnosis control unit, and an activationstatus of said stethoscope device.
 32. The method of claim 23, whereinsaid one of said medical diagnostic devices is a stethoscope devicecomprising a real time clock, and wherein said microcontroller of saiddiagnosis control unit is configured to transmit said generated actioncontrol signals to a digital signal processor of said stethoscope devicefor actuating said real time clock to control recording of diagnosticacoustic data by said stethoscope device for a predefined time period.33. The method of claim 23, wherein said one of said medical diagnosticdevices is an ultrasound device, and wherein said microcontroller ofsaid diagnosis control unit is configured to transmit said generatedaction control signals to an ultrasound processor of said ultrasounddevice for actuating said ultrasound device to perform said one or moreactions indicated by said generated action control signals.
 34. Themethod of claim 23, wherein said one of said medical diagnostic devicesis an ultrasound device comprising one of a plurality of interchangeableultrasound probes operably connected to said attachment unit, andwherein said microcontroller of said diagnosis control unit isconfigured to transmit said generated action control signals to anultrasound processor of said ultrasound device for actuating said one ofsaid interchangeable ultrasound probes of said ultrasound device todetect and receive ultrasonic sounds from one or more of said anatomicalexamination areas for said remote diagnostic examinations.
 35. Themethod of claim 23, wherein said one or more actions to be performed bysaid one or more of said image capture device and said medicaldiagnostic devices comprise one or more of power control of said imagecapture device and said medical diagnostic devices, power control of oneor more of a plurality of light sources operably connected to one of afront section of said attachment unit, a predefined section along alength of said attachment unit, and an upper section of said diagnosiscontrol unit, said capture of said diagnostic image data by said imagecapture device, recording of said diagnostic examination data by saidone of said medical diagnostic devices, recording of said diagnosticimage data and said diagnostic examination data for a predefined timeperiod, managing storage of said diagnostic image data and saiddiagnostic examination data, managing deletion of said stored diagnosticimage data and said stored diagnostic examination data, light generationand brightness control by said one or more of said light sources, imagescaling by said image capture device, audio volume control, creation ofaudio files in a plurality of audio file formats, and any combinationthereof.
 36. The method of claim 23, wherein said medical diagnosticdevices comprise a stethoscope device, an ultrasound device, an otoscopedevice, an ophthalmoscope device, a dermatoscope device, an endoscopedevice, and any combination thereof.
 37. The method of claim 23, whereinsaid diagnostic examination data comprises audio data, video data, imagedata, and any combination thereof.
 38. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising uploading and storing said diagnostic image data and saiddiagnostic examination data from one of said image capture device andsaid local user device on one or more servers comprising a dedicatedserver and a server in a cloud computing environment, wherein said oneor more servers are health insurance portability and accountability actcompliant servers.
 39. The method of claim 23, further comprisingproviding a graphical diagnostic examination interface in said medicaldiagnostic examination system, said graphical diagnostic examinationinterface in operable communication with said diagnosis control unit ofsaid multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus, wherein saidgraphical diagnostic examination interface is configured to render andindicate one or more of said anatomical examination areas to bediagnostically examined using said multipurpose diagnostic examinationapparatus based on a connection status of one or more of said imagecapture device and said one of said medical diagnostic devices to saiddiagnosis control unit.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein saidgraphical diagnostic examination interface is further configured todynamically display one or more of a plurality of interface elements onsaid rendered one or more of said anatomical examination areas andreceive user inputs through said dynamically displayed one or more ofsaid interface elements for selectively activating said one or more ofsaid image capture device and said one of said medical diagnosticdevices for initiating recording of said diagnostic image dataassociated with said one or more of said anatomical examination areas bysaid image capture device and said diagnostic examination dataassociated with said one or more of said anatomical examination areas bysaid one of said medical diagnostic devices, and wherein said recordeddiagnostic image data and said recorded diagnostic examination data arestored in one or more formats in said medical diagnostic examinationsystem.
 41. The method of claim 39, wherein said graphical diagnosticexamination interface is further configured to dynamically display anupdated status of diagnostic examination data based on subsequentdiagnostic image data and subsequent diagnostic examination datareceived from said multipurpose diagnostic examination apparatus by saidmedical diagnostic examination system.
 42. The method of claim 39,wherein said graphical diagnostic examination interface is configured asa health insurance portability and accountability act compliantinterface for media based conferencing.
 43. The method of claim 23,wherein said image capture device is configured as a web camera forfacilitating said medical imaging and said remote diagnosticexaminations of said anatomical examination areas.